North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has declared September 8–14 as Arts in Education Week to bring attention to how important the arts are for kids.
Cooper’s proclamation, which came out on September 5, says that the arts are “essential to a complete and well-rounded education for all students.”
Since 2010, when Congress passed House Resolution 275, Arts in Education Week has been held every year in the second week of September across the country.
Educators and supporters work all week to show lawmakers and elected officials how important arts education is while also celebrating and promoting arts in schools.
A press release from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) said, “This week, people who work in arts education come together in communities across the country to celebrate the impact and transformative power of the arts in education.”
DPI will hold two high school marching band shows on the Halifax Mall in Raleigh to honor the week. Monday morning, Green Level High School got up and performed. On Thursday, September 12, at 11:30 a.m., Cleveland High School will do the same.
Cooper’s proclamation says that arts education “helps raise academic achievement, boosts attendance and graduation rates, and prepares students for college, career, and citizenship readiness.”
“North Carolina supports statewide partnerships and cross-sector collaboration to promote and advance comprehensive arts education for North Carolina school children,” the proclamation reads.
“This includes arts education, arts integration, and arts exposure.” “The arts are an important part of life in our state and a complete education. This, in turn, makes communities and the country more lively and healthy.”