5/3/05 -- Denver Public Schools received the 2005 Award for Outstanding Support and Commitment to the Arts in Education during the final General Session at the Annual Conference.
The annual award is sponsored by NSBA and the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network.
In the wake of major budgetary deficits in 2003, the Denver school board was able to secure $14.5 million in bond and mill levy monies to support arts education, including $8 million to convert an existing school into the Denver School for the Arts, which serves 900 students in grades 6-12.
“We have always been very proud of our arts education program, which has been evolving for many years,” says board President Les Woodward. “Now we have the funding and personnel to take it to new heights of excellence.”
The bond enabled the district to provide an arts teacher for every elementary school and four arts coordinators. The district also hired an arts supervisor to coordinate the work and ensure that all Denver students attain standards-driven levels of arts awareness and experiences in visual arts, vocal music, instrumental music, drama, and dance.
The new monies also allowed the district to provide an additional $10 per elementary student for art supplies.
In recognition of the important contributions of community members, the Denver school board established an Art Resource Council made up of art professionals, art educators, and business people to advise the board on art instruction policy.
The district developed strong partnerships with the city and county of Denver and the Denver arts community. The partnerships have led to enriched arts experiences for students, such as artists in residence, visiting artists, arts field trips, art shows, and festivals. At last year’s Shakespeare Festival, more than 3,000 students performed on stages at Denver’s performing arts complex.
The district’s many exemplary arts programs include the Mariachi Juvenil group at Bryant Webster Elementary School, an all-city marching band, and a “singing Christmas tree.”
The district offers ballet to elementary students and classes in Suzuki violin, drawing, and jewelry making. All 26 elementary school playgrounds are being converted to learning landscapes that will include arts projects created by students.
According to school officials, 97 percent of all students who graduate from a Denver high school have taken at least one arts-related course.
Other districts in the state look to Denver for leadership in arts instruction. The Denver school board helped develop Colorado’s state standards for arts education and worked to promote passage of a bond initiative to support cultural and scientific facilities in the metropolitan area.