Arts Impact Dissemination and Expansion
U.S. Department of Education
Arts Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant: 2010-2014
Arts Impact Dissemination and Expansion (AIDE) is a project of Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) in partnership with Seattle Public Schools, North Central Educational Service District 171 (NCESD), Northeast Washington Educational Service District 101 (NEWESD) and key rural and low-performing school districts from each region.
Seven elementary schools (three from Seattle School District in the PSESD region, two from Wenatchee School District in the NCESD region, and two from remote rural school districts in NEWESD) with free and reduced meal percentages of 35% or more will be randomly selected and assigned to one of two groups—AIDE or control. Teacher leader teams from the treatment schools will receive training in the AIDE model. The project will reach approximately 1,500 students across the four schools over the period of assistance. In addition, six Artist Mentors and two Program Coordinators from NCESD and NEWESD regions will be trained in the foundational principals and management of the Arts Impact program and the specific components of the AIDE project.
Project Design
The AIDE project has planned an experimental evaluation design. In each of the three target districts, project staff will identify a pool of eligible K-5 schools to participate. For the local district, six schools will be randomly selected from the pool, and three schools assigned to the Treatment Group and three schools to the No Treatment Controls. For each of the dissemination districts, four schools will be randomly selected from the pool, and two schools assigned to the Treatment Group and two schools to the No Treatment Controls. This yields a study of seven Treatment schools and seven Control schools.
A multiple measures, mixed methodology design will provide both formative and summative feedback. Data will be collected to obtain information on fidelity of program implementation, barriers to implementation, and factors affecting outcomes. Instruments will include:
- Program evaluation: teacher levels of engagement; pre and post teacher surveys; teacher focus groups
- Autonomy Rubric for Teachers (A.R.T.): measurement of growth in teacher practice (PDF, 200KB)
- STAR Observation Protocol assesses the presence of powerful teaching and learning at the school level as evidenced by observation of students and teacher’s skills, knowledge, application, and relationships. For further information on the STAR Observation Protocol, go to www.bercgroup.com.
- Curriculum sensitive assessments (project developed)
- District math and literacy assessments
- Performance-based assessment of teacher learning
- Performance-based assessments of student learning in the arts and in arts-infused content
- Measurements of Student Progress: Information about the Washington State Assessments, Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) Tests, can be found on the OSPI website
- District math and literacy assessments may vary by district
Project Goals
- Integrate standards-based arts education into the core elementary curriculum in diverse geographical regions statewide, including a large city, remote town, and rural regions.
- Strengthen standards-based arts instruction in the elementary grades across the state by providing intense and sustained professional development in the arts.
- Improve elementary grade student academic performance and skills in creating, performing and responding to the arts, including student groups traditionally identified as low-performing and from rural schools.
- Develop and disseminate grant products, evaluation tools and project results through Open Educational Resources to facilitate further replication statewide and nationally.
Program Components: Treatment Groups
- Teacher Leader Teams
- Locally trained Artist Mentors and administrator
- Local cultural partners
- Two year course: 45-51 total hours of instruction per year include:
- Experiential Summer Institute: 30 hours per year
- Classroom mentorship: 10 hours per year
- Supplementary Workshops
- Professional Learning Communities
- Cultural study trip to museum exhibition, dance or theater performance
- Up to 51 clock hours or 4 graduate credits per year
Curriculum
Resources
- Two curriculum notebooks (one per year): Arts-Infused Reading; Arts-Infused Math
- Digital images of artworks from local museums as object-based references of concepts in each visual arts lesson, available in notebooks and on disc
- Professional performances at partnering theaters and performing arts centers
- Museum tours customized to complement Arts Impact and teacher-created lessons
- Teacher-written lesson plans on disc
- Web-based lesson plan database available after project completion