Advocacy for Arts Programs

Georgia PTA, in addition to participating in the Reflections Program, presents the Ann Weeks Music Award and the Performing Arts Award. The Ann Weeks Music Award was established in 1977 in honor of a past Georgia PTA president to provide monetary support for students pursuing training in music.

The Performing Arts Award recognizes the talent of young performers in the areas of dance and theater. The recipients of both awards, chosen based on their performance, are recognized at the Georgia PTA Annual Awards Ceremony held each April in Atlanta. Visit Georgia PTA's website for more information about Georgia PTA's arts in education programs.

The California State PTA and the California Alliance for Arts Education (CAAE) launched a statewide campaign—Arts Learning in Action—to celebrate Arts Education Month in March. Schools and school districts throughout California highlighted arts learning in education through performances, exhibits, and classroom demonstrations. The objective of the Arts Learning in Action campaign was to raise awareness among state, county, and local elected officials about the essential value of arts education in schools by inviting decision makers and elected officials into classrooms to experience learning in the arts firsthand. The campaign is a key component of SMARTS—Bring Back the Arts, the California State PTA's overarching program to encourage arts education.

According to CAAE Director Laurie Schell, "With increasing public validation of the arts, it is now time to recognize arts education as a key ingredient of the school reform arsenal."

Adapted from the Arts Learning in Action Toolkit of the California State PTA and the California Alliance for Arts Education (CAAE).