This link is a great article about arts in educ

http://www.csustan.edu/honors/documents/journals/elements/Flory.pdf

This articles links score improvements, etc to arts in education.

action research into the arts in ed - lst post

I would like to use this blog to gather information and resources from other teachers, institutes, professors and artists on ways to incorporate the arts into the curriculum.  I’m focusing on elementary education, because this has had the biggest cuts and I think we can use technology to aid, train and support teachers and parents.  This is as action research project and I hope to use this information to better understand the issues, shape a plan and reshape the plan to make reform in my school. 

            There is a lot of research out there about the latest “buzz” in education; however, I believe the best way to keep students engaged is through the arts.  I also feel these are the areas that create “moments” and a sense of accomplishment that students remember.  (That’s been my brief experience anyhow.)  This administrative inquiry, or action research, will focus on the concerns of my elementary school and I do not want to base my approach to solving the problem by simply using an outside researchers’ source or program.  This type of approach involves teachers and administration in the planning, data collection and interpretation of the information.  Carr and Kemmis (1986) termed this approach as “action research.”