Chicago Arts Partnership in Education (CAPE), Young Audiences Arts for Learning's Chicago-based affiliate, was recently awarded US$2.3 million by the US Department of Education, in the form of an Assistance for Arts Education Development and Dissemination (AAEDD) grant.
The award will fund a four-year program called STEAM Ahead. CAPE will partner with the Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163 (D163) on STEAM Ahead, in order to: improve educators’ arts-integrated science+technology+engineering+math (STEAM) instructional practices; improve students’ STEAM learning, capacities, and achievement; and develop whole school planning and capacity for STEAM-centered teaching and learning. A vital component of all AAEDD grant awards is in-depth and rigorous research aimed at understanding the actual impact of the work being done in classrooms.
Throughout the four years of the STEAM Ahead program, CAPE will be working with external researchers to investigate how their professional development and classroom strategies contribute to improved educator practices, student learning, and school capacities. This research will help identify best practices to offer back to the field as well as areas with room for further growth.
We congratulate CAPE on this prestigious award and exciting partnership with D163. Read the complete announcement on CAPE's blog to learn more.
CAPE is one of three Young Audiences affiliates to receive AAEDD grant awards this year! Learn more about all of the YA Network's winning projects here.
