What research supports the benefits of arts education as part of a basic and balanced curriculum for all students?
The following points are taken from Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development. [ Critical Links was published by the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), a coalition of more than 100 national education, arts, business, and philanthropic organizations. AEP is administered by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies through a cooperative agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Education.] Critical Links and other research studies point to strong relationships between learning in the arts and fundamental cognitive skills and capacities used in mastering other school subjects, including reading, writing and mathematics. Of great importance to schools struggling to close achievement gaps are the indications that for certain populations – including students from economically disadvantaged circumstances and students needing remedial instruction – learning in the arts ma
