State legislators and local officials will join the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) at the Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School (BArT) to see how the arts and creativity have helped the school advance student achievement.
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m.
Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School, 1 Commercial Street, Adams
The MCC has invested in BArT since 2005 to improve literacy and writing skills through school-wide projects that integrate visual and performing arts with English language arts (ELA), math, and science. The state Department of Education recently identified BArT as a “high growth” school in both ELA and math achievement. The Adams school also earned a highly competitive National Endowment for the Arts grant to preserve teaching jobs in the arts. The event will include a discussion with administrators, teachers, and students, a showcase of student work, and a tour of the building.
“As our state and federal governments consider a range of education reform proposals,” says Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director, “BArT’s success can provide important lessons on how the arts can be central to academic success.”
Expected attendees include: Senator Benjamin Downing of Pittsfield; Representative Dan Bosley of North Adams; Anita Walker, Executive Director, MCC; Julia Bowen, Executive Director, BArT; Jonathan Butler, Adams Town Administrator; Richard Alcombright, Mayor-elect, North Adams.
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