Ensuring equitable access to the arts in Northern Anne Arundel County Public Schools
The Arts Empowered Minds Initiative (AEMI)
is a collective impact initiative that utilizes the arts to improve school achievement, parent involvement, and student engagement and empathy in Northern Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
Arts Empowered Minds is led by Young Audiences / Arts for Learning, the Chesapeake Arts Center, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, the Arts Education in Maryland Schools (AEMS) Alliance, the University of Maryland – Baltimore County, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
Despite years of additional schooling, two-thirds of students remain behind.
The Challenge
Anne Arundel County Public Schools is an award-winning system and is seen as a leader in arts education and arts integration. Yet, as with many school communities, we see unequal student access to ARTS and ARTS-INTEGRATED learning opportunities across the County, including in Northern Anne Arundel County.
Arts-integrated learning has been a lever for boosting student achievement, parent involvement, and teacher retention at Bates Middle School in Annapolis and nationally, yet not all students have access to high-performing schools like Bates.
School climate surveys in Northern Anne Arundel County show that only 56% of students in Northern Anne Arundel County elementary schools believe that bullying or harassment of students is not a problem or is a small problem in their school. There is also a great need for improvement in student achievement in Northern Anne Arundel County schools.
In third grade, only one in three Northern Anne Arundel County students meet expectations on both math and reading portions of the PARCC assessment. In sixth grade, students face the exact same odds: despite years of additional schooling, two-thirds of students remain behind.
Inspire children to make meaningful, real-world connections to the curriculum.
Our Vision
Through the collaboration of a diverse array of concerned people and organizations, the Arts Empowered Minds Initiative (AEMI) will increase access to high-quality, arts-integrated learning opportunities by both creating new programs and leveraging existing resources to increase their impact. AEMI is focused on putting into place three essential elements in Northern Anne Arundel County public schools:
- Sustainable partnerships with teaching artists and arts organizations that inspire children and use the creative process to make meaningful, real-world connections to the curriculum
- Increased access to out-of-school time arts programs
- Professional development for teachers in arts integration to boost student engagement
As a result of this work, we believe that school achievement, parent involvement, and teacher retention will significantly increase.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS in Northern Anne Arundel County
TEACHERS will receive 300 hours of training in arts integration
Pre-K through 12th grade STUDENTS will benefit
days of TEACHING ARTIST residencies at each of the 12 schools
"The arts reflect the vision, energy, and talent of America’s artists and arts organizations. The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support organizations such as Young Audiences and their Arts Empowered Minds Initiative in serving their communities by providing excellent and accessible arts experiences."
JANE CHU
Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
ARTS EMPOWERED MINDS
Ensuring equitable access to the arts in Northern Anne Arundel County Schools.
410.837.7577 | info@artsempoweredminds.org