The Phoenix Arts Collaborative is a partnership between the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, ASU Herberger College of Arts, the Arts & Sciences in Education Network (a consortium of nine arts organizations that provide educational outreach activities for schools and communities) and nine identified under-performing elementary schools in Phoenix Elementary School District No. This project establishes new and alternative pathways to meeting the state standards in reading, writing and mathematics in and through arts and academic assistance programs for underserved and low-income children. The program accomplishes its goals while interfacing with the existing P.E.E.R. after school child care and recreation program.
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Target populations served by the grant are those students who are most academically at-risk. Students who fall far below the Arizona Academic Standards in reading, mathematics and writing receive priority for services. Assessment results and teacher recommendations will identify students for additional services.
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Students receive two types of services and activities. The activities include academic assistance and arts experiences.
Students receive academic assistance after school in small group settings. Highly qualified teachers work with students on their identified academic needs in reading, mathematics and writing. Students most at-risk of not reaching their fullest potential are targeted to receive instruction. As these children master the Arizona academic standards, other students are cycled into the program.
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Students participating in the arts component of the program have a wide variety of activities. Each arts organization provides two teaching artists for each fifteen-week session. There are nine different arts organizations that rotate into the schools during the five-year funding cycle. Each program is based on the Arizona art standards and provides links to the Arizona reading, writing and mathematics standards. Individual students develop a student portfolio as part of the curriculum.
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A vital component administered through the district office of the Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 is the nutrition program. In cooperation with this office, the PHOENIX ARTS COLLABORATIVE program utilizes and expands the essential aspect of nutritional awareness and healthy snacks for the children at each site.
Program activities are available to children Monday through Thursday for 2 hours after the end of the school day. Students are referred to the academic assistance component of the program based on assessment performance data and teacher recommendation. Students who score in the lowest quartile on the SAT-9 and/or whose score falls far below on state academic standards have priority in receiving additional academic assistance. In the program, teachers provide instruction on the standards, students receive daily assignments that are reviewed by parents and returned the next day. The academic component uses direct teaching. Teachers use effective teaching strategies including direct presentation of new concepts and skills, guided student practice with close teacher monitoring, corrective feedback, independent practice and distributive practice over time. Teachers receive staff development training in effective instructional strategies.
In addition, English Language Learners (ELL) who are non-English speakers receive priority. Instruction for ELL students are characterized by implementing the most effective instructional strategies which include: 1) teachers communicate high expectations for the success of all students and a belief that all students can learn; 2) teachers are committed to achieving equity for all students and believe that they are capable of making a difference in their students’ learning; 3) students receive academically challenging curriculum that includes higher-level cognitive skills; 4) instruction focusing on students’ creation of meaning about content in an interactive and collaborative learning environment and 5) meaningful learning tasks.
Transportation expenses are included in the budget to assist the Phoenix Elementary School District in providing buses for all after school and intercession transportation needs. This includes any buses needed by special education students. Arts Organization staff is responsible for transporting students to any field trip or small group performances and/or exhibits. Each van driver is fully-licensed in van driving and has taken a defensive driving class. All city employees are fingerprinted by the City of Phoenix Police Department and have undergone extensive background checks.
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Equitable participation is guaranteed through the Phoenix Elementary District Welcome Center as well as information distributed at the school. The center embraces the multicultural child and family. The Welcome |  |
| Center provides children and families with information on the numerous programs and resources at the school and within the District. In addition, the District Homeless Liaison is available to provide assistance and service to homeless families to ensure that they have equal access to all educational opportunities. Special needs children are recruited and served by the program. Program announcements are written in English, Spanish, as well as any other language that is necessary.
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The Arts and Science Education Network provides arts instruction integrated with the Arizona Academic Standards in reading, mathematics and writing. The nine organizations in the Phoenix Arts Collaborative include Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Phoenix Bach Choir, Great Arizona Puppet Theater, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company, Phoenix Conservatory of Music, Arizona Jewish Theatre Company, Center Dance Ensemble and Childsplay. Each organization develops arts activities integrated with specific academic standards. The 15-week 60-hour arts program encompasses the arts standards as well as integrated academic standards. The artist-instructors create opportunities for field trips and performances and exhibits for the family and community. The role of each arts organization is to provide high quality arts instruction and experiences for children and motivate them to read and write and to apply mathematics.
