In recent years, much of the education policy debate has become consumed by America's "culture war." State legislators and school boards across the country have questioned whether public schools ought to reinforce, or transform, America's civic culture. Over 90 percent of Americans believe arts are important for the education system, and 80 percent believe adults should continue to access arts education outside school. However, only 49.5 percent of people received any arts education in childhood in 2008, compared with 64.6 percent in 1982, and that proportion continues to decline. Even outside the education system, federal appropriations to state arts agencies fell by nearly half since 2000, according to the National Endowment of the Arts. There is better empirical evidence than ever before that the arts build character and civic cohesion. Instead of just playing defense in a civic culture war, conservative leaders should take the culture war offensive on behalf of arts education in public schools. This report presents the empirical case for the arts, societal benefits of the arts, and policy recommendations.