ArtsNOW $2.78 Million Grant to benefit Statham & Winder Elementary Schools

ArtsNOW has been awarded a $2.78 million Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) grant by the US Department of Education (USDOE) for its project, “STEM + the Art of Integrated Learning (SAIL).”

ArtsNOW, a non-profit organization, leads the way in reshaping education by integrating the arts into all subjects. At the core of ArtsNOW is their programming and support to integrate visual arts, music, dance, media arts, and drama into academic lessons. The results include students’ ability to greatly improve their creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

ArtsNOW first partnered with BCSS at one elementary school in 2008, which has since blossomed into a district-wide partnership. Our shared passion and commitment led us to collaboratively create the Center for Innovative Teaching that houses programs like the Professional Residency and Arts & Innovation Magnet (AIM).

The USDOE Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) program promotes arts education for students and teachers through activities such as professional learning, development, and dissemination of accessible instructional materials and arts-based programming. The AAE program also encourages community outreach activities that strengthen and expand partnerships among schools, local educational agencies, communities, and art centers.

ArtsNOW applied for and received the $2.78 million AAE grant, a portion of which will benefit two BCSS elementary schools - Statham and Winder Elementary schools.

The focus of the "STEM + the Art of Integrated Learning" (SAIL) project is to develop and test the use of arts-integrated lessons that are:

• aligned with the 3rd through 5th grade content standards for math and science,
• supported by standards in the arts, and
• incorporate inquiry-based activities to support the development of students’ critical thinking skills.

SAIL will also explore ways in which arts-based programming can be used to build students’ social-emotional competencies.

"I'm thrilled to see our longstanding partnership with ArtsNOW and the great things they have brought to our curricular improvement continue in the form of this exciting grant opportunity," stated Dr. McMichael. "I'm very proud of the staff of Statham and Winder Elementary Schools for being a part of this. We're looking forward to the great learning opportunities for both our students and teachers."

Overall, the SAIL project will last five years and will include the development of eighteen inquiry-based math and science units supported by teacher professional development.