THE CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION

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PARENTS CONNECT WITH CHILDREN THROUGH THE ARTS

New Guides Help Parents Support their Child’s Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 10, 2008 (New York, NY) - The Center for Arts Education (CAE), the leading voice in stimulating and sustaining the arts in New York City public schools, is offering parents a FREE series of arts education guides that includes tips and resources for how they can support the arts in their child’s school. “My Child, the Arts and Learning,” available for grades PreK-2, 3-5 and 6-8, gives parents the information they need to support a quality, well rounded education for their child that includes the arts.

Since the enactment of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), schools are spending more time testing students in reading and math and less time ensuring students receive a balanced education that includes creative learning. According to a study conducted by the Center on Education Policy (http://www.cep-dc.org), 44% of school districts surveyed reported cutting time from one or more other subjects or activities (social studies, science, art and music, physical education, lunch and/or recess) at the elementary level to accommodate for increased time in English Language Arts and math.

“The arts provide students with a powerful opportunity for self-expression, collaboration and confidence building, and to develop critical thinking skills that are essential to success in the 21st Century workplace,” said Richard Kessler, Executive Director of The Center for Arts Education. “The arts should be considered a right for children, not a privilege and we want parents to know that they are an integral piece in supporting their child’s educational development.”

CAE’s Parent Guides are a valuable resource for parents who want to support arts education in their child’s school. Tips and resources included in the guides are specific to the following grades levels:

PreK-Second Grade: when basic learning skills begin to develop

Grades 3-5: when students are introduced to high-stakes testing in reading and math

Grades 6-8: when parent involvement and academic performance traditionally start to decline

Numerous studies indicate that parent involvement is a key factor in a child’s academic success. The arts can inspire continuous parent involvement and can serve as a gateway for parents who want to reconnect with their children and become more active in their school communities. With these guides, parents can learn:

How the arts fit into your child’s education

How your child can benefit from the arts

How YOU can support the arts

The Parent Guides will be available in September 2008. Free copies can be requested through The Center for Arts Education or copies can be downloaded online at www.cae-nyc.org in 9 different languages; English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Urdu and Chinese.

The Center for Arts Education (CAE) is committed to restoring, stimulating, and sustaining quality arts education as an essential part of every child’s education. CAE provides information and resources that demonstrate the benefits of and need for arts education as part of a quality, balanced education. CAE also identifies and supports exemplary partnerships and programs that demonstrate how the arts contribute to learning and student achievement. CAE is dedicated to influencing educational and fiscal policies that will support arts education in all of the City’s public schools. Since its founding in 1996, CAE has awarded nearly $40 million in private and public funding to support arts education.

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