In conjunction with National Arts in Education Week, we are releasing our latest progress report, which highlights the achievements of The Right Brain Initiative and its fifth year serving Portland students. We saw incredible growth as Right Brain increased its reach by 45 percent to serve a total of 44 schools. Read on to discover more from our newest progress report.
STEM+ARTS=STEAM
In partnership with Jackson and Quatama Elementary Schools in Hillsboro, we’ve added an “A” to the educational initiative known as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). In collaboration with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, STEAM served as a pilot program to allow students to connect the arts with STEM subjects like physics, zoology and geology.
Common Core
New Common Core State Standards designed to foster students with critical and creative thinking skills for the real world and beyond were introduced to Oregon Public Schools. By connecting our educators to development sessions, we helped forge a harmonious link between the new Common Core standards and Right Brain, producing creative and critical thinking experiences for students.
Turnaround Arts
The Turnaround Arts Initiative aims to use the arts to improve the achievement of America’s lowest preforming schools. King School in Northeast Portland was selected as one of eight schools to receive funding for arts programming. Teaching artist Julie Keefe worked with students on a variety of projects including storytelling, photography writing, and museum observation and provided educators with tools to integrate the arts into their classroom.
To read more of our progress report and learn amazing statistics and facts—like Right Brain growing 120 percent since January 2009, or Right Brain serving more than 11,470 students—click here to download the PDF.
Elizabeth Midgorden is Right Brain’s Outreach Apprentice for Fall 2013.
