Newsletter 03

GREETINGS FROM ARGY’S CUBBY with a view of the STATE HOUSE DOME at the Department of Education
26 February 2007

ARTS NEWS
In the last week I have received two emails with concerns about the arts and the EPS (Essential Programs and Services) formula. Basically, this formula is what decides how much money each school district receives annually from the state to educate students. Periodically, I hear “VPA are not in EPS.” That is NOT true! All 8 content areas from the Maine Learning Results are figured into the formula. You can read the statute that clearly states the inclusion of VPA at: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec15671.html

This next link will give you a little more clarification of what the first statute outlines: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec6209.html

I hope this clarifies where the arts stand when it comes to funding. If anyone communicates a different message to you, you can refer them to these documents.

YOU’RE INVITED

Argy’s Arts Blog is available to you! YAHOOOOO! If you are interested in participating please go to: http://mearts.edublogs.org/ and participate by reading, posting a comment or both. You will find a topic at the link. If you choose to comment, it will come to me and I will approve the post. Your comment will not automatically post, so please be patient. Keep in mind that this blog is meant to be a positive arena for arts educators to have discussions!

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
If you are interested, please check out the attachment of grant opportunities.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Lab School located in Washington D.C. is sponsoring: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities. 32 teachers will be selected to attend this one-day workshop at the school on May 12th. More than half of each day (at the Lab School) is spent in arts classes and is carefully planned to enhance academic achievement, build organizations skills and strengthen self-esteem. You can find the application and more information at:
http://www.labschool.org/ Click on: The Power of Art/Rauschenberg

COMMUNICATION
If you know of others who would like to receive this newsletter, please have them contact me at my email address below. If for some reason you do not want to receive this newsletter every two weeks, please contact me and I will remove you from the list-serve.

AVAILABLE GRANTS

*** Mr. Holland’s Opus Music Foundation Grants
Two programs: 1) The Melody Program that targets qualified school music programs in need of assistance and 2) The Special Projects Program that targets community schools of the arts, after school programs and youth orchestras in need of assistance

Eligibility: 1) qualified school music programs in need of assistance
2) community schools of the arts, after school programs and youth orchestras in need of assistance

Award: Program funds instrument repair and the acquisition of new instruments; no cash grants

Deadlines: none

Link: http://news.publiceducation.org/t/5780/60120/181/0/

***Awards for Innovative and Progressive Thinking in Education”

Eligibility: Full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, and classified staff members with projects that improve students learning at K-12 public or private schools.

Award: maximum $27,000

Deadlines: April 30, 2007

Link: http:www.ingusa.com/us/stellent2/groups/dc/documents/companylobinformation/001143.pdf

***Grants for Arts, Education, and Health Projects”

Eligibility: The Milagro Foundation seeks grants applications from community-based, grass-roots organizations that work with underprivileged children and youth in the areas of ARTS, EDUCATION, and health. 501©3 organizations.

Award: $5000.00

Deadlines: none

Link: http://www.milagrofoundation.org/apply.asp

*** Barnes & Noble Corporate Contributions

Eligibility: Barnes & Noble Corporate Contributions Program is committed to literacy-based sponsorships and partners with organizations that focus their core businesses on higher learning, literacy and the arts.

Award: varies

Deadlines: none

Link: http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our_company/sponsorship/sponsorships_national/donations_national.html

PLEASE HELP
I have received a couple of emails asking me for clarification on what classes can be considered to fulfill the current Fine Arts Requirement at the high school level, i.e. one credit. I understand there was a document (from long ago) that stated the criteria. This may have been in the old Chapter 125 or 127. If anyone knows of this document or has a copy of it, please contact me. Thank you in advance!

LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST
As teachers of the Visual and Performing Arts we have so much in which to be proud!! March is Youth Art Month and Music In Our Schools Month. (I am going to call it Arts Education Month). This month take some time and “SHOUT” about the value of arts education. However you celebrate, large or small, here’s a great big THANK YOU from me! Arts Advocacy Day, sponsored by the Maine Alliance for Arts Education is being held at the state house in Augusta on Wednesday, March 7th.

“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we hit it.” Michelangelo

Visual and Performing Arts Information

contact information:

Learning results Information

Newsletter 03

YOU’RE INVITED

AVAILABLE GRANTS