OCTOBER 14, 2021 – New York, NY – Young Audiences Arts for Learning (Young Audiences), the nation’s largest arts in education learning network, has been awarded a $9.2 million federal grant through the US Department of Education’s (DOE) Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) program. The project, Responsive Arts in School Education (RAISE), will bring Teaching Artists (TAs), School Social Workers (SSWs), and classroom teachers into partnership to develop healing-centered and culturally responsive-sustaining arts in education residency programs, in order to enhance student learning and well-being across the country.
The RAISE program consists of four primary activities: (1) TA training, coaching, and action research; (2) learning networks for TAs and SSWs across the country to share best practices; (3) professional learning for SSWs and teachers in incorporating the arts into their practice; and (4) customized school-based arts education residencies.
Over 50 hours of in-depth professional learning will be offered each year to TAs from the full YA network and beyond, covering healing-centered and trauma-informed practices and culturally responsive-sustaining pedagogy. Additional instruction and coaching will be provided to TAs working in school partnerships at 16 affiliate sites, who will convene regularly as a learning community to share action research strategies and findings.
The project period for RAISE extends for five years, through September 2026. Metis Associates, based in New York, will serve as research partner on the project.
Over the five years, RAISE will serve over 17,000 students and 800 teachers and SSWs from under-funded urban, suburban, and rural areas across the country, as well as over 500 TAs from within and outside of the YA network who will receive training. At the conclusion, Young Audiences will publish an online library of resources for use by other organizations, TAs, SSWs, and teachers.
“The Responsive Arts in School Education program brings to light the opportunity to further position the Young Audiences Arts for Learning network as a national research laboratory steeped in differentiated practice nationwide,” said David A. Dik, National Executive Director of Young Audiences. “Through both formative and summative research over the next half-decade, we look forward to connecting our collective practice to support the social-emotional learning and wellbeing of students across the country.”
According to the US Department of Education, RAISE was selected as one of 27 projects awarded through the AAE program for FY21.. The AAE program promotes arts education for students through activities such as professional learning, development, and dissemination of accessible instructional materials and arts-based programming, and community and national outreach activities that strengthen and expand partnerships among schools, local educational agencies, communities, and arts centers.
About Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Founded in 1952, Young Audiences Arts for Learning is the nation’s largest arts in education network, serving more than 5 million young people each year. Young Audiences works to support its diverse network of affiliated organizations that are each dedicated to playing a decisive role in young people’s personal, artistic, and educational development. Learn more about Young Audiences and its mission to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts at www.youngaudiences.org.
Contact
Emily House
Young Audiences Arts for Learning
emily@ya.org
212-831-8110
