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Remarks by Executive Director, Richard Kessler,On the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

United States Department of EducationJanuary 20th, 2010

On behalf of everyone associated with The Center for Arts Education, we would like tothank Secretary Duncan, Assistant Deputy Secretary Shelton, and The United StatesDepartment of Education for this opportunity to present ideas about how arts education,

as a key part of a well-rounded education, can be supported through the reauthorizationof the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

"Arts education plays an essential part in children's education. It enrichestheir learning experience and builds skills that they can apply across thecurriculum. The arts can play a significant role in programs that extendthe school day and the school year."

"As we think about NCLB reauthorization...I really want to think abouthow we can create incentives for folks not to narrow the curriculum, andcontinue to give a complete, comprehensive set of activities and

experiences for children."

-- Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education

The reauthorization ESEA is the perfect opportunity to act upon these statements in aprofound and historic way, to send a loud and clear message to everyone that artseducation: is not an expendable subject; is not left for out of school time only; and will not be denied for the children that need it the most. ESEA has already declared that artseducation is a core subject. The upcoming reauthorization is the place, and now is thetime to make these words a reality for every public school child—and particularly studentsfrom low-income backgrounds n America.

Since ESEA is and has always been focused on children in need, it is vital to consider this: the children who are provided arts education the most in the home, are provided itthe most at school. Conversely, the children who receive it the least at home, receive itthe least in school.

Moreover, the narrowing of the curriculum for needy children was clearly documented bya February 2009 report by the Government Accounting Office.

The reauthorization of ESEA should:

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Promote educational equity and ensure that the curriculum is expanded rather than narrowed. There cannot be a well-rounded education without the arts.

Steal a page from Race to the Top by incentivizing arts education through ESEA, just as STEM subjects have been in Race to the Top.

Focus on high-quality integrated arts programs that schools have usedsuccessfully to overcome the difficult issue of time in the school day.

Provide resources through the USDOE that support arts learning for all studentsand capitalize upon the two current USDOE arts education programs that focuson model development and dissemination, and teacher professionaldevelopment.

Support successful arts programs that improve achievement for Englishlanguage learners

Work with local school districts and organizations to promote best practices andequitable, high-quality programs.

Promote the role of the arts in school redesign/turnaround. Many new andsuccessful schools have been created using arts education on a thematic basis.

Finally, the arts present a solution to strengthening the role of parentengagement within ESEA. One example is the success of programs that bringparents and children together through Saturday programs in arts learning.Another is with programs that have great success in engaging parents withlimited English proficiency.

Arts education is ultimately an issue of the health and well-being of our children, and thusour future as a nation. If you look to what health care professionals know about the vitalrole the arts play in the emotional and cognitive development of our children, you willknow how important it is to restructure ESEA in a way that is ultimately positive for artseducation.

The Center for Arts Education225 West 34th Street, Suite 1112New York, NY 10122877-434-ARTSwww.caenyc.org

The Center for Arts Education is committed to stimulating and sustaining quality artseducation as an essential part of every child’s K-12 education in the New York City publicschools.