The vast majority of principals intuitively believe that the arts belong in schools and in every child's life. Now is the time to take action on your intuition--and become an instructional leader for the arts, just as you are for every core subject. Arts-engaged principals share strategies for becoming instructional leaders for the arts.

Schools that are integrating the arts into literacy, math, and other core subjects are dispelling the notion that there's an either-or choice in education--either you focus on literacy and math or you provide a well-rounded curriculum in the arts and other subjects. Crayola grant-recipient schools are demonstrating that you can do both--and end up…

The increasing focus on arts education during the past few years has brought much-needed attention to the benefits it affords to students of all ages. Past research has proved time and again that the arts support teaching and learning in numerous ways, and recommendations abound that schools should find ways to integrate the arts in classrooms.…

"What if?" might be the most powerful question in education. NAESP and Crayola challenge schools with that question every year in their Champion Creatively Alive Children grant competition. Schools are encouraged to ask questions such as: What if arts-infused learning thrived every day in schools? What if schools relied more on project-based…

Becoming a champion of arts education means establishing a culture that embraces a team approach toward integrating the arts. This article offers some practical guidance for developing a creative leadership team--and cultivating creativity in the whole school.

For years, professional journals have published articles that communicate the importance of high-quality arts education programs. This article talks about how educators can use quality arts programs to contribute to the intellectual, physical, and emotional well-being of learners. The author also discusses what principals can do to advance arts…

Many people talk about arts integration, but not everyone can actually walk the talk. In this article, the author describes how she vigorously embraced arts integration as an administrator at Casey Elementary, an urban, art-integrated school located in central Mississippi. The author contends that it requires total focus, and an enormous amount of…

No matter how many bulletin boards, exit signs, motivational posters, and directional signage in a school, write the authors, there are always wall spaces that cry out for something to cover them. In 2006, when Cedar Canyon Elementary School opened its doors for the first time, the amount of bare wall space was noticeable even after putting up…

This article features five schools (John P. Oldham Elementary, Norwood, Massachusetts; R. J. Richey Elementary, Burnet, Texas; Pittsburgh Carmalt Science and Technology Academy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; John D. Shaw Elementary, Wasilla, Alaska; and Springville K-8, Portland Oregon) that offer five promising practices. From fourth graders learning…

Amid crossing currents of educational expectations pressing on principals, the author advocates for enhancing inclusion of the visual and performing arts. Although electives and clubs provide arts exposure to a selected few, many students do not receive consistent and high-quality arts experiences. Carefully planned, interdisciplinary arts…

An artist outlines her system (called the Monart Drawing Method) for teaching children to draw realistically. Children are taught an alphabet of five elements of shape and allowed to interpret and utilize the information any way they wish. The system allows children's natural creative abilities to flourish. (MD)

The arts are advocated not because they help children learn basic skills, but because the skills that are developed through the arts are basic to the complete growth of every human being. (Author/IRT)

The U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools exhibit best practices in art education, embodying high accomplishment, lofty aspirations, and transformative ideas. Principals should extend arts education offerings to all students; use the arts to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment of other subjects; capitalize on newer technologies;…

An elementary school art teacher with 25 years' experience with the Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools praises her district's nationally recognized program. She attributes success to several factors: a written curriculum for grades K-6, a strategies document for implementing the curriculum, a strong staff development component, collaboration…

North Carolina's ABC program, part of a state effort to improve school performance, calls for greater accountability, a back-to-basics emphasis, and more local control in planning and implementing programs. In response, results of the East Carolina University Math/Art Project, a study to determine the effects of interdisciplinary art and math…