FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007

Arts Education Innovators Explore Opportunity for Syracuse Schools

What: Big Thought learning partnership presents education partnership
When: Thursday, May 10, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Where: The Redhouse, 201 South West Street (corner of West Fayette), Syracuse
Who: public meeting for anyone interested in education               

Imagine if a city invested in raising the next generation of active and creative young people — just like it invests in streets or parks or good government. Imagine what that could mean for every child’s learning and development.

Syracuse is about to find out.

Big Thought, the Texas-based learning partnership that has raised test scores, improved literacy skills, boosted cognitive development, and engaged students by integrating cultural resources into Dallas’ classroom curricula, is inviting Syracuse to host its first dissemination project, with a pilot beginning in the 2007 – 08 school year and expansions in the following years.  

Partners for Arts Education will be hosting Big Thought representatives as they meet with focus groups from Syracuse City School District, the Arts and Culture Leadership Alliance, and Central New York education resource leaders on May 9. The public will be invited to an information session at 1:00 pm on May 10 at The Redhouse, 201 S. West St. in Syracuse.

The “big thought” is that a community, working together, can lift children up and better their lives using arts and culture as tools and catalysts. Schools, cultural organizations, community agencies, and public and private funders form multi-year, sustainable partnerships to consolidate local arts and learning resources into one coherent vision for education.

Carol Terry, Syracuse City Schools’ Field Coordinator for Fine Arts, says, “With all of the amazing programs for learning through the arts that we are currently able to access, something like a Syracuse “Big Thought” could bring together our committed stakeholders to create even greater opportunities for our students now and in the world we are preparing them to enter.”  

A long-term study by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform and the Dallas Independent School District found that students who participated in their cultural integration programs increased active learning behaviors and improved writing and communications skills.  Progress was documented across all ethnicities in schools throughout the district, which serves over 100,000 students in 156 schools.

The Big Thought-style project offers the opportunity for schools, cultural organizations, and the relationships between them to be strengthened significantly, resulting in long-term benefit for the community.  

Partners for Arts Education has been engaged in a year-long project along similar lines, Community, Culture, and Education, which is assessing the relationships between Central New York cultural organizations and our schools.

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Partners for Arts Education inspires learning and leadership for arts in education in Central New York and throughout New York State. We provide funding and support to deepen and enrich educational experiences in and through the arts for students, teachers and artists.

Partners for Arts Education
Delavan Center Suite 221  501 W. Fayette St.  Syracuse, NY  13202
315.234.9911  info@arts4ed.org  www.arts4ed.org

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