Arts for Academic Achievement Help Students in Minneapolis Schools

The Arts for Academic Achievement Programput real effort into what they do and develop a
The Arts for Academic Achievement Programstrong positive attitude toward learning. At the
(AAA) has been bringing artists into Minneapolishigh school level, attendance has jumped for
Schools since 1997. While its outward focus is onstudents involved in the AAA program, as
teaching students to paint, dance, and expressstudents desire to come to school and learn
themselves artistically, its real mission is to makemore.
students love learning and use the arts to applyHow It Helps Teachers Teach
themselves to their academic subjects. SupportedAAA brings teachers into the planning and
initially by an Annenberg Foundation educationalimplementation process. This builds a community
reform grant and in partnership with the Perpichof learning that cares most about helping students
Center for Arts Education, AAA has expandedachieve through an atmosphere of cooperation
throughout Minnesota. Currently the Minneapolisand understanding. Minneapolis School District
School District has pledged to continue theteacher teams develop curriculum and work
program after the end of the initial grant, bringingtogether with local artists to present and enhance
the program to 120 classrooms in 40 schools innew learning experiences. This leads to changes in
the Minneapolis School District.the way that individual teachers as well as whole
How It Helps Students Learnschools view education.
Students in the AAA Program develop a positiveAAA research shows that teachers involved in
attitude toward school and learn the value ofthe AAA program change the way they teach.
determination in finishing a project that hasMinneapolis School District teachers see how
meaning for them. National research indicates thatstudents can learn, redirecting their efforts
instruction through the arts is very effective intoward students that had otherwise been
raising the achievement scores of at - risk groups.regarded as weaker. AAA gave teachers to
The AAA Program has documented theunderstanding and experience to help develop
substantial increase in student assessment scoresmore children in areas such as intelligence,
when arts are integrated into the Minneapolisleadership, and motivation. In addition, instruction
Public Schools. The ties between third gradeby Minneapolis School District teachers participating
reading scores and the level of arts instructionin the AAA program created more child -
show a clear link between the two. The morecentered classrooms in which children can develop
arts education provided, the higher the scores,and explore at their own pace. Minneapolis School
especially within groups that have shown greaterDistrict teachers learned that the creation of
barriers in learning.independent student learning activities allowed
AAA makes students work hard and feel pride instudents to develop their own skills in a different
demonstrating their skills to the community.way from teacher - led classroom instruction.
Students perform or present their projects toMinneapolis School District teachers participating in
real audiences and strive to make thoseAAA learned how to encourage students to take
audiences proud of them. As a result, studentsrisks in order to increase their understanding.