EdWeek Commentary —Arts Ed is Essential

Recently in Education Week, Sandra Ruppert, director of the national Arts Education Partnership, made yet another case for improving fine arts education and integration. Building on years of research, the magazine makes the case that strong arts programming leads to postsecondary success. In a statement not meant to be heavy-handed, but honest, the article comments, "Does it really matter if the performance of 8th grade students on the NAEP arts assessments is mediocre at best, or that significant achievement gaps based on socioeconomics and other characteristics continue to persist?" Ruppert asks. "It matters only if we as a nation are truly serious about reaching the president’s goal of preparing all K-12 students by 2020 to succeed in school, work, and life." Check out the entire commentary here.