July 16, 2024 – New York, NY – The Baltimore affiliate of Young Audiences Arts for Learning, Arts for Learning Maryland, in partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools, has been named a 2024 U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Engage Every Student Recognition Program Champion. AFL MD is one of only 13 organizations across the country honored by the agency for efforts "to expand access to high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs for students."
For the past decade, AFL MD's award-winning Summer Arts and Learning Academy (SALA) has been helping Baltimore City Public School students fight summer learning loss. The program is offered as a free, full-day, five-week summer program in Title 1 schools. In 2023, AFL MD launched After School Arts and Learning Academy (ASALA), an afterschool program modeled after SALA. Both programs partner teaching artists with classroom educators to build up students' reading and math skills by encouraging creativity and arts-integrated exploration. This past year, more than 2,600 students participated in SALA and ASALA in 15 sites around Baltimore.
Studies have shown than this work is having a measurable impact. A recent evaluation by WolfBrown, conducted by AFL MD, shows that students who attended ASALA grew academically at a faster rate than their grade-level peers who did not attend the program. Results illustrate that ASALA students exhibited gains in math testing that were 37% larger than those by students not in ASALA. In reading assessments, students in ASALA showed gains that were 62% larger than their peers not enrolled in the program.
"This study is part of a growing body of national research demonstrating the transformative power of arts integration: when students have sustained opportunities to learn in and through the arts, they have greater rates of academic success," says David A. Dik, National Executive Director of Young Audiences Arts for Learning. "We are very proud that the DOE has chosen to recognize, rightfully so, the incredible work being carried out at Arts for Learning Maryland in the out-of-school time space."
"This year's Engage Every Student Champions are leading the charge in their local communities and states to ensure that all students nationwide have the opportunity to thrive, learn, and grow through their engagement in high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs," says U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "These awardees include a range of organizations all across the country, with nearly half located in under-resourced or rural communities. Every child deserves the opportunities for out-of-school time enrichment these programs provide."
Other factors that were considered in the selection of Engage Every Student Champions include rising enrollment, a commitment to serving students from low-income families, and employing evidence-based approaches. The DOE's announcement comes as the agency prepares to host its 2024 Engage Every Student Summit in Washington, D.C.
To learn more about Arts for Learning Maryland's SALA and ASALA initiatives, please visit https://www.artsforlearningmd.org.
About Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Founded in 1952, Young Audiences Arts for Learning’s mission is to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts. We are the nation’s largest arts in education network, comprising local affiliates across the country that collectively impact over 5 million young people and their families each year. The national Young Audiences Arts for Learning network works collaboratively to advance arts in education through advocacy, communications, fundraising, program development, professional learning, and other support. To explore our national network, please visit: www.youngaudiences.org/network
Contact
Lauren Altschuler
Young Audiences Arts for Learning
lauren@ya.org
