The art of partnerships

The shift from the No Child Left Behind Act to the recently authorized Every Student Succeeds Act could beckon a renaissance of K-12 arts education in the U.S. Over the past decade, NCLB’s increased emphasis on accountability testing in core subjects has coincided with a notable decline in school-based arts exposure. Recognizing this trend and anticipating its consequences, many school districts and arts education advocacy organizations have been tackling this challenge through innovative, community-based partnerships that leverage existing arts education resources, bringing local arts organizations, cultural institutions, artists, and philanthropic efforts together to provide enriching opportunities for students in high-need schools. These partnerships provide models that schools, districts, and states could adopt to strengthen their arts programs.