March Proclaimed “Arts in Our Schools Month” by NC Superintendent and State Board of Education
As Arts Education in North Carolina Schools includes four separate and distinct disciplines: dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts – each with its own body of knowledge and skills; the NC School Board of Education and Superintendent jointly issued a proclamation in support of Arts in Our Schools Month and urges all citizens to celebrate and acknowledge every day, but especially in March, Arts Education as an essential part of every student’s education in North Carolina. Professional Arts Education associations and organizations were present representing their respective memberships and stakeholders (see full list below).
March has also been designated by the National Dance Education Organization as “Dance in Our Schools Month,” by the National Association for Music Education as “Music in our Schools Month,” by the National Theatre Association as “Theatre in Our Schools Month,”; and by the Council for Art Education as “Youth Art Month.”
Over 95% of all students enrolled in NC Public Schools have access to Arts Education courses. In our NC Public Schools we are a leader in the United States in access to Arts Education programs where there is a high percentage of students that are receiving Free or Reduced Lunch-nearly 80% of those students at each school are enrolled in a Dance, Music, Theatre Arts or Visual Arts course.
A copy (PDF) of the proclamation is available for you to share with your freinds and on social media. We urge each of you to celebrate all Arts Education as essential for all NC students as part of a well-rounded education.
- North Carolina Art Educators Association, Past President, Penny Freeland
- North Carolina Dance Education Organization, President Elect, Kate Cummings
- North Carolina Music Educators Association, President, Jazzmone Sutton
- North Carolina Music Educators Association, Executive Director, Pat Hall
- North Carolina Theatre Arts Educators, President, Chuck Stowe
- North Carolina Theatre Conference, Secretary, Judy Dove
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Arts Education Consultant, Jeremy Tucker
- A+ Schools of North Carolina, Director, Michelle Burrows
- North Carolina Museum of Art, Director of Teaching and Learning, Michelle Harrell
- North Carolina Symphony, Director of Education, Jason Spencer
- North Carolina Symphony, President & CEO, Sandi Macdonald
- Arts North Carolina, Nate McGaha, Executive Director