x Salient Studies on the Arts in Education

A fine arts education — including music, theater, cartoon, painting, or sculpture — whether in practise or theory, has been a function of any well-rounded curriculum for decades — but that may be changing. Many schools today are cutting back or eliminating their art programs due to budget constraints. It is estimated that past the end of this year, more than than 25% of public high schools will have completely dismantled them. These stats aren't just bad news for teachers working in the arts, such every bit those at traditional schools for dance or online colleges for photography. Numerous studies done over the past decade take demonstrated the astonishing benefits of such an integral education facet. Students who don't have access to art classes may not just miss out on a cardinal creative outlet, merely might also face greater difficulty mastering core subjects, higher dropout rates and more than disciplinary bug.

You lot don't take to accept our word for it — you can read the studies yourself. Here, we've listed some of the biggest on the arts in education conducted over the past decade. Taken on by inquiry organizations, higher professors and school districts themselves, the studies reveal the power of art to inspire, motivate and educate today's students. And, of course, demonstrate what a disservice many schools are doing by undervaluing such an integral function of their pedagogy and development.

  1. A 2002 study by the Arts Education Partnership revealed that schoolchildren exposed to drama, music and dance are oft more than proficient at reading, writing, and math.

    While school districts might exist tempted to think the arts a frivolous part of the educational system, this study suggests otherwise. Information technology looked at over 62 different studies from 100 researchers, spanning the range of fine arts from trip the light fantastic to the visual arts. In 2002, it was the beginning report of its kind to expect at the touch of art on academic performance. Using this data, researchers adamant that students who received more arts education did improve on standardized tests, improved their social skills and were more motivated than those who had reduced or no admission. While researchers at the AEP admitted that art isn't a panacea for what ails struggling schools, the report led them to believe it could be a valuable asset for teaching students of all ages — specially those in poor communities or who need remedial pedagogy. With so many online colleges for design options, students in every demographic can pursue a higher education. An updated report with consistent results was conducted by the aforementioned researcher in 2010.

  2. The 2006 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum study on art pedagogy showed a link between arts education and improved literacy skills.

    The written report was the result of a airplane pilot program through the Guggenheim called Learning Through Art, which sent artists into schools to teach students and help them create their ain masterpieces. Kids who took function in the program performed better on six unlike categories of literacy and critical thinking skills than those who did not. While students did better on an oral exam, they did non on standardized, written literacy tests — a disparity researchers said could exist considering they did not emphasize written advice in the programme. Program organizers believe the improvements were the result of students learning valuable critical thinking skills while talking about art, which could so be applied to understanding and analyzing literary materials. Students could even have these skills further at online colleges for creative writing or broadcast journalism.

  3. In 2007, Ellen Winner and Lois Hetland published a study stating the arts don't really improve academic operation, but it shouldn't matter.

    Winner and Hetland head up an arts education program called Projection Zero at the Harvard Graduate Schoolhouse of Education, so they are by no ways opponents of creative expression. Yet in their 2000 written report, they found little academic improvement in math, science, and reading in their arts teaching program enrollees. While the backlash from their written report was swift and brutal, the researchers stuck past their findings. And for skilful reason. They believe it shouldn't matter whether or not fine art courses improve test scores or grades, and that art pedagogy should garner support for what information technology offers on its own merit — not in relationship to annihilation else. Regardless, their written report did reveal that arts educational activity has some larger benefits which can't exist hands quantified through test scores. Namely, it helps students improve visual analysis skills, acquire from mistakes, be creative and make better critical judgments.

  4. A 2005 written report by the Rand Corporation called "A Portrait of the Visual Arts" argues that art didactics does more than just give students a creative outlet. It tin actually assist connect them to the larger world, ultimately improving community cohesion.

    A bold assertion, just not i without merit. Students from lower income families often go little exposure to the arts if they are not provided by schools. The report shows that arts education can help close the gap between socioeconomic groups, creating a more level playing field betwixt children who may not be exposed to these enrichment experiences exterior of school and some of their more privileged peers.

  5. Teachers and students alike do good from schools that take stiff fine art climates, a 1999 study chosen "Learning In and Through the Arts" demonstrated.

    People have been so wrapped up in showing how arts education benefits students, many oasis't stopped to consider how it as well impacts educators. The report studied students at 12 New York, Connecticut, Virginia and South Carolina schools to compile their results. Not only were students at schools with high levels of art educational activity earning higher scores on critical thinking tests, merely teachers as well seemed happier. Part of the increase in their satisfaction was a event of their charges, who were found to be generally more cooperative and expressive and enjoy a better rapport with educators. That wasn't all, all the same, as teachers at schools that emphasized arts education enjoyed greater task satisfaction, were more interested in their piece of work and likely to be innovative and pursued personal development experiences. It's not a trivial finding, as what is good for instructors is oft very adept for their students as well. This is something those at online colleges for instruction should keep in heed.

  1. The Center for Arts Education published a written report in 2009 that suggests arts pedagogy may improve graduation rates.

    Taking a look at the office of arts education in New York public schools, this written report constitute that schools with the everyman admission also had the highest dropout rates. Conversely, those with the highest graduation rates likewise had the greatest access to arts pedagogy and resource. While at that place are undoubtedly a number of other factors that play into graduation rates, the research in this report and others like it (nigh notably The Role of the Fine and Performing Arts in Loftier School Dropout Prevention, which you tin read here) has found that many at-risk students cite participation in the arts as their reason for staying. Participation in these activities has a quantifiable impact on levels of delinquency, truancy and bookish performance.

  2. A 2011 study called "Reinvesting in Arts Education" found that integrating arts with other subjects can aid raise achievement levels.

    Arts education may not just help raise examination scores, but also the learning process itself, equally a recent study revealed. This report on the Maryland schoolhouse organisation found that skills learned in the visual arts could help improve reading and the counterparts fostered in playing an instrument could be applied to math.  Researchers and schoolhouse officials believe that arts educational activity can be a valuable education reform tool, and classroom integration of creative opportunities could be fundamental to motivating students and improving standardized test scores. Taking it a stride farther, online colleges in Maryland, for case, are creating mail service-secondary didactics opportunities for students in the state.

  3. A study of Missouri public schools in 2010 institute that greater arts education led to fewer disciplinary infractions and higher attendance, graduation rates and test scores.

    Using data submitted by the state's public schools, the Missouri Department of Instruction and the Missouri Brotherhood for Arts Education compiled this study. They found that arts education had a significant outcome on the bookish and social success of their students. Those with greater arts participation were more likely to come to form, avoid being removed and graduate. Additionally, they demonstrated greater proficiency in mathematics and advice. Many have aspired to online colleges in Missouri, or other states. Similar studies of other statewide education systems have discovered nearly identical results.

  4. In "Neuroeducation: Learning, Arts and the Brain," Johns Hopkins researchers shared findings showing that arts instruction can assistance rewire the brain in positive ways.

    While proponents of arts teaching have long asserted that creative training can aid develop skills translating into other areas of academics, footling research had been washed to investigate the scientific component. Aspects of training in the arts, like motor control, attention and motivation, were studied by researchers who participated in the report, with some interesting results. In one iv-year study, students undertaking regular music grooming were establish to have changes in their brain structures helping them transfer their motor skills to similar areas. Some other found students motivated to practice a specific art class and spent fourth dimension with focused attention increased the efficiency of their attention network as a whole, even when working in other areas of report — and it improved their fluid IQ scores. Other studies reported like scientific findings on the arts' touch on on the brain, showing that sustained arts education is can exist essential part of social and intellectual development.

  5. A 2009 survey, part of the "Nation's Report Menu: Arts 2008" report, institute that access to arts education opportunities hasn't inverse much in a decade.

    Many of the problems that plagued arts education programs in schools ten years ago are withal major issues today, this survey revealed. Center schoolhouse students across the nation haven't seen an increment in access to music and visual arts education, and their understanding of its tenets remains low — especially in certain disenfranchised socioeconomic and racial groups. Many believe the numbers are even worse today, as the survey was conducted prior to the economic woes that take paralyzed many schools systems in recent years. As in 1997, the 2008 survey showed that only 47% of students had access to visual arts instruction, and just 57% to music education. The survey attempted to look at theater and dance programs, but since so few schools offering them, they were dropped from the written report.