Literacy Development in the Visual and Performing Arts
The Challenge
The latest round of bad publicity associated with literacy achievement has forced educators to look anew at how to increase literacy instruction and achievement, not just within the reading and language arts block, but within every area of the curriculum (CA Postsecondary Education Commission, p 55).1
ArtsCore is a professional development program with the overall goal of developing new knowledge and strategies that, when employed in the visual and performing arts, will lead to improvements in student academic achievement. ArtsCore makes the case that there is a real need for professional development that strengthens standards-based arts education, particularly for students in "low performing" schools.
Program Goals- Develop curriculum in alignment with the California visual and performing arts academic content standards.
- Integrate arts instruction with other content areas
- Improve student academic skills
More than 100 teachers from 50 schools and 15 districts in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties have participated in professional development through ArtsCore and are part of a community of learners who stay in contact throughout the year through email and workshops.
SponsorshipThe ArtsCore Project is funded by the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Program.
1 CA Postsecondary Education Commission. Developing teaching professionals: The California Eisenhower state grant program experience [Report]. 1996-1998, p 55.