Regular Session 2023-2024 Senate Resolution 0038 P.N. 0362

PRINTER'S NO. 362

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No.

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY COMITTA, HUGHES, BROWN, CAPPELLETTI, BREWSTER,

SCHWANK, KANE, SANTARSIERO, FONTANA, KEARNEY, BARTOLOTTA,

TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, HAYWOOD, HUTCHINSON AND STREET,

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of March 2023 as "Music in Our Schools

Month," "Theater in Our Schools Month," "Dance in Our Schools

Month" and "Youth Art Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Arts education experiences have substantive effects

on student academic, social and emotional outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Social and emotional learning skills are more

necessary than ever as the world emerges from the COVID-19

pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Research and studies have shown that engagement in

arts education has a positive impact on student discipline,

standardized writing scores and compassion and empathy for

others; and

WHEREAS, The Every Student Succeeds Act recognizes fine arts

programs as fulfilling the requirement that each school provide

a well-rounded education to students; and

WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, students in grades K-12 must

be provided with instruction in fine arts disciplines, including

music, dance, theater and visual art; and

WHEREAS, Students who took four years of art classes in high

school scored an average of 92 points higher on SATs than

students' peers; and

WHEREAS, Students with high levels of arts involvement are

less likely to drop out of school; and

WHEREAS, Disadvantaged students who receive an arts education

are three times more likely to earn a bachelor's degree than

students who lack those experiences; and

WHEREAS, The study of music engages students in creative,

cultural, aesthetic, intellectual, social, physical and

emotional development; and

WHEREAS, Music education helps develop students' skills

critical to 21st century learning for success in school and

life; and

WHEREAS, These skills are integral to the economy of this

Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The National Association for Music Education is

leading the conversation nationwide on the importance of quality

music education in schools; and

WHEREAS, Theater education teaches invaluable skills needed

to be successful in the workforce, including the ability to

listen, artistic sense, nonverbal communication, enthusiasm and

storytelling; and

WHEREAS, Drama instruction integrated into elementary

classrooms improves students' social and emotional development

and contributes to a positive classroom culture; and

WHEREAS, English language learners in kindergarten through

second grade who received weekly drama lessons demonstrated

increased listening and speaking skills on standardized tests;

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and

WHEREAS, Reading play scripts out loud has been found to help

at-risk middle school students become better readers; and

WHEREAS, Only 28% of public high schools in high-poverty

areas offer theater instruction; and

WHEREAS, The Educational Theatre Association envisions every

student will have access to theater taught by qualified

educators as a vital part of a well-rounded education and is

dedicated to shaping lives through theater education; and

WHEREAS, Education in the art of dance develops the knowledge

and skills required to create, perform and understand movement

as a means of artistic communication; and

WHEREAS, A comprehensive education in dance includes

improvisation, technique, choreography, performance, observation

and analysis; and

WHEREAS, Dance education engages the artistic processes of

creating, performing and critical analysis by requiring students

to read symbol systems, use critical thinking skills, excel in

nonverbal reasoning and communication, exchange ideas, work

cooperatively and collaboratively with others and interact in a

multicultural society; and

WHEREAS, Student achievement, teacher satisfaction and school

culture are improved through dance education as demonstrated by

increased reading and STEM test scores, improved memory

retention and cognitive connections and enhanced teacher and

school morale; and

WHEREAS, The National Dance Education Organization is

dedicated to advancing dance education for individuals of all

backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, Visual arts education is valuable in developing

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divergent and critical thinking, multicultural awareness and

technical, communication and expressive skills among students;

and

WHEREAS, The Council for Art Education promotes quality

school visual art education programs in grades K-12 across the

United States; and

WHEREAS, The Council for Art Education "Youth Art Month"

theme for 2023 is "Art Connects Us"; and

WHEREAS, "Youth Art Month" exists to recognize art education

as a viable factor in the total education curriculum and to

direct attention to the value of art education for divergent and

critical thinking; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of March 2023

as "Music in Our Schools Month," "Theater in Our Schools Month,"

"Dance in Our Schools Month" and "Youth Art Month" in

Pennsylvania; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize schools and certified

arts educators in efforts to provide more robust, comprehensive

arts education curriculum for students in grades K-12; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the positive impact that

music, theater, dance and visual art education have on

communities and students across this Commonwealth to help raise

awareness regarding the need for access to quality programs for

all students regardless of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity

or ability.

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