A local education advocacy group is sponsoring a grant program to revive arts programs in city public schools where they were dropped after budget cuts.

Public schools from elementary grades to high school without full-time art or music teachers has become the norm in Philadelphia, said Linda Fernandez, director of The Picasso Project, which has provided more than $551,000 in grant funding since its inception in 2002, benefiting more than 35,000 students.

“What is unique about the Picasso project is it allows students to do projects with professional artists and brings funding to schools that would not have,” she said. “It’s more common to come across a school that doesn’t have a full-time art or music teacher.”

Last week, the المواطنون العموميون للأطفال والشباب (PCCY) announced grants, ranging from $1,600 to $5,000, for 15 public schools that have minimal staff dedicated to arts programs. Three of the schools receiving grants had neither art or music teacher on staff, Fernandez said. The Picasso Project is a PCCY initiative.

PCCY officials say the grants help schools elevate the quality of arts instruction across the board, enhances classroom learning experiences in various mediums, from the visual arts, mosaic art, music and theater.

According to survey responses taken by PCCY from schools that received grants in 2014, 80 percent of respondents said the reinvigorated arts program had a positive effect on student cooperation, behavior, school climate and piqued their interest in the creative arts.

This year’s award recipients met the criteria for the grant award, showing a strong potential for impacting learning beyond the school and connecting with professional artists who can assist students in developing skill and technique, she said.

Chester A. Arthur School, Stephen Girard Elementary School, Samuel Powel Elementary School, Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School, Swenson Arts and Technology High School and The Workshop School based in the original West Philadelphia High School building were among the 15 schools receiving Picasso grants.

“What makes a strong proposal is where schools and art-based organizations can really show the impact arts projects will have on schools, and how it impacts learning not just in one classroom but the entire school and community,” Fernandez said. She said all the proposals, submitted online, were scored based on meeting grant awards criteria. The students projects were diverse in types of mediums and students who would benefit.

As part of their effort, each school was required to add a public advocacy component to their project, aligning with PCCY’s push for a transparent and fair formula for funding public schools. Pennsylvania remains among only a few states without a state funding formula on the books.

“Through this grant, we will be able to open the minds of our students in a way that, otherwise, would not have been possible,” said Lisa Ciaranca-Kaplan, principal of the Andrew Jackson School, an award recipient.

All the proposals, submitted online, were scored based on meeting grant awards criteria, she said. The grant will support student projects diverse both in types of mediums and students who would benefit.

The award recipients met the criteria for the grant award, showing a strong potential for impacting learning beyond the school and connecting with professional artists who can assist students in developing skill and technique, she said.

“What makes a strong proposal is where schools and art-based organizations can really show the impact art projects will have on schools, and how it impacts learning not just in one classroom but the entire school and community,” Fernandez said.

As part of their project, each school was required to add a public advocacy component to their project, aligning with PCCY’s push for a transparent and fair formula for funding public schools. Pennsylvania remains among only a few states without a state funding formula on the books.

“Since we do not have fair funding for our schools, children do not get the full exposure to arts projects to unlock their potential. We are proud that we can help thousands of children access arts education, but we need a fair system of funding schools so all children can have access to the arts,” Fernandez said.

The Philadelphia Tribune – December 26, 2014 – اقرأ المقال على الإنترنت