Ahead of the City Council hearing on the Executive Budget for the Department of Education, educators ask the Mayor and Speaker to guarantee $100 per student for arts education

NEW YORK, NY (05/10/2022) — Today, ahead of the City Council hearing on the Executive Budget for the Department of Education, over one hundred teachers called on Mayor Eric Adams and Speaker Adrienne Adams to guarantee $100 per student for arts education in the City budget to equitably improve overall student performance while addressing learning loss from COVID and mental wellness issues. Last month, the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable launched the “It Starts with the Arts” campaign to secure arts funding for public school students.

Before the pandemic, a majority of principals reported that funding for the arts was insufficient to give all students a basic foundation in arts education. After two years of COVID the imperative to provide all students with a sound arts education has strengthened. Engagement in the arts can get students struggling  to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically back on track. Research shows that arts education improves student performance, mental health, and the overall chances of success later in life.

“At a time when it is needed most, the students in our arts classes are given an outlet for expression and the tools to process the world around them. But not every child in New York City has access to the arts. This closes them off from essential experiences that support their growth as critical thinkers and creative citizens. At some of our schools, resources for the arts have completely dried up, putting our students’ futures in jeopardy,” they write in the letter.

If you are a DOE teacher interested in adding your name in support of arts in our schools, complete this brief Google form below.