hr1565_LC_33_1384_a

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06 LC 33 1384

House Resolution 1565

By: Representatives Coleman of the 97th, Casas of the 103rd, Everson of the 106th, Thomas of the 100th, Ashe of the 56th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Commending and encouraging art education in Georgiás public schools and urging the Governoŕs Education Finance Task Force to include art education in its Investing in Educational Excellence recommendations; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, a Harris Poll released June 13, 2005, shows that 93 percent of Americans agree that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for children and that more than half of those surveyed rated the importance of arts education a ten on a scale of one to ten; and

WHEREAS, seven teams of researchers under the Champions of Change Initiative, cosponsored by the President́s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, concluded that arts in education transform learning environments and reach students who are not otherwise being reached; and

WHEREAS, the Education Commission of the States reports that studies over the past several years show that the arts can improve cognitive skills in reading, language development, and mathematics and help students develop problem solving and creative thinking skills; and

WHEREAS, a 1999 report from The College Board, which administers the SAT, showed that students who took arts courses outperformed their peers who did not take arts courses by 66 points on the verbal section of the SAT and 42 points on mathematics section; and

WHEREAS, a 2002 national symposium on the arts affirmed that the arts occupy a low rung on the ladder of educational priorities in most school districts despite the effectiveness of the arts in improving student performance and despite growing interest in the business community to recruit and retain a creative, critical-thinking work force.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize the potentially powerful impact of the arts on improving the performance of Georgiás students, commend and encourage art education in Georgiás public schools, and call upon the Governoŕs Education Finance Task Force to include art education in its Investing in Educational Excellence recommendations.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Dean Alford, Chairperson of the Governoŕs Education Finance Task Force.