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New!!! Download A Whole New Education. This Power Point presentation includes speakers notes that will help you share the key points of the Daniel Pink event. To see photos of Innovation, Education and the Changing World of Work, click here.

Arts Advantage links services for districts, schools, and teachers to establish and expand arts education, K-12.  There are a variety of support materials on this site that will be helpful to you as you consider your program.

Arts Advantage Education Initiative
Arts Advantage is the county-wide plan for arts education.  It includes the benefits and goals of the program.  In addition, it includes valuable research supporting the case for arts education.

Strategic Planning
Trained coaches are available to work with your school district team to develop and write a 5-year strategic plan for arts education.  The district team of 20-30 administrators, teachers, parents and community partners will establish clear goals for key areas of need they identify.  The plan will state an implementation timeline, outcomes, and resource needs.

Professional Development
Reflections about Pre Service Training of Single Subject Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts Teachers and Multiple Subject Teachers 
Pre-service training is an important area concern if education is going to meet the needs for creative teachers in the future.  View the most recent strategies from the CAC. (Click to download brochure)

Arts Advantage Professional Development
All teachers may take advantage of series designed to increase their knowledge and skills to teach the arts, K-12.  Arts Advantage districts may take advantage of scholarships for their teachers.

Pathways to Understanding for K-8 Teachers learn the content, skills processes and instructional strategies needed in a particular arts discipline to design instruction.  Institues are avalialbe in each of the four disciplines.  Dance and theatre are offered in Orange County; music and visual arts in San Diego. Invitational Institute Educators will have an opportunity to work together to improve teaching and learning in the arts through demonstration and refining exemplary standards-based lessons.

The Center’s ArtsTeach Leadership Institute
Join fellow educators for an inspiring week of arts learning.  You will experience meaningful, authentic tools and techniques to make you feel confident integrating the arts across the curriculum.  Scholarships available for Arts Advantage district teachers.

Translating A Whole New Mind into Classroom Practice
Daniel Pink's Six Senses can shift the ways we look at instruction and the power of learning.  These sessions will begin the conversation for Orange County.  Please join a group of like-minded teachers and administrators to launch this effort.

K-12 Teachers- TBA
Adminstrators- TBA

Curriculum Development
Arts Advantage districts are developing curriculum in each of the arts disciplines for K-6 classroom use.  See draft samples of Elementary Curriculum for Visual Arts.

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Total revenues from creative industries in Orange County in 2005 were $13 billion. In order for businesses to remain competitive and cutting edge, they must attract individuals who can think creatively and problem solve.

Business leaders and analysts tell us that imagination, innovation, and creativity are the primary skills that will keep America competitive in the global economy.

To explore how you and your business can engage in this initiative, click here.

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Businesses and talented workers are drawn to locations that offer high-tech industries, a strong arts and cultural scene and vibrant schools and neighborhoods.For businesses to remain competitive and cutting edge, they must attract individuals who can think creatively and problem solve.

In his new book, Who’s Your City, author Richard Florida states that the place we choose to live is the most important decision of our lives. The creative vibrancy of a city or community is a key factor as to whether we feel happy and fulfilled.

To explore how you and your city can engage in this initiative, click here.



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Results from a national poll were recently released by Lake Research Partners identifying a new strand of voters poised to support candidates and policy that ensures building capacities of the imagination in schools.

• 9 in 10 voters agree that imagination is key to innovation and student success
• 82% say imagination should be taught in schools and embedded in core subjects 
• 91% of all voters say the arts are necessary to build imagination and should be taught in schools

Parents play a vital role in the survival of sufficient arts education in schools. Collaboration among parents, teachers, and arts leaders can create a powerful constituency advocating for arts programs in schools. Parent involvement is an integral part of not only influencing decision makers to include arts education as part of the basic curriculum, but also guaranteeing the best possible education for all students.

To explore how you can join other parents to increase arts education in Orange County’s schools, click here. 

To learn more about statewide efforts through the SmARTS program, click here.

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