Arts Partners for Achievement

The Iowa Arts Council supports and encourages collaborative work between schools and community arts resources (artists and/or arts organizations) in order to expand the capability of schools to improve the quality of education for their students.

Note: Arts Partners for Achievement does not anticipate adding new sites in the 2005-06 school year. Check back after January 1 for application information for 2006-07.

Grants awarded through this pilot program will support the development of school/arts partnerships to enhance delivery of local K-12 education in and through the arts.

Applicant teams must identify:

• at least one arts partner (teaching artists, or representatives of arts organizations)
  AND
• at least two teacher partners (in one school) to plan, create, implement, and assess arts-infused learning that addresses district standards. One teacher must be a school arts specialist.

This pilot program operates on several assumptions:

1. That students achieve at higher levels when they have access to education in and through the arts;
2. That teaching artists and community arts organizations can enhance the opportunities for all students to learn when they are at the table as collaborators in a long-term partnership;
3. That successful collaboration requires time for planning and reflection, and technical assistance as partners learn one another’s’ languages and learn to be partners.

Use of Funds

Grant funds are intended for the following purposes:

1. To pay arts partner(s) for their time and services for
   a) planning and reflection time, and
   b) in-classroom time spent collaboratively implementing the lesson(s) developed by the team
2. To pay teachers for planning and reflection time that occurs beyond the school day
3. To pay for substitute teachers when needed to facilitate daytime planning and reflection meetings
4. To use no more than 10% ($300) of the grant funds to pay for curricular materials, art-making supplies, transportation, etc. (Match funds, however, may be spent on these items.)

No part of grant funds may be used for capital expenses, equipment, or lobbying activity.