|
Do you know someone who doesn't get our emails?
Share this email with them and encourage them to sign up for the Arts Education listserv!
 In This Issue
- Call For Proposals for the 2026 NC Comprehensive Arts Education Conference Now Open!
- Fight the Bite Poster Contest
- Professional Development for Arts Education - Summer
- What's Behind the Numbers
- Orff Schulwek Teacher Education Program
- Resources from Music Will
NC Arts Council Corner
- Creativity in motion—the impact of arts-integrated teaching
- Interested in becoming an A+ school?
 Proposals to present at the Fall Comprehensive Arts Education Conference to be held on Saturday, September 26th at the PECK Expeditionary Learning School, Raleigh NC are currently being accepted. The deadline for submission is 11:59pm on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
This day-long conference serves as a statewide professional development opportunity for arts educators, district arts education leaders, teaching artists, arts integration specialists, and pre-service teachers from across North Carolina working in K-12 programs, independent studios, performing arts organizations, and higher education institutions.
The mission of this conference is to support the three essential components of the North Carolina Comprehensive Arts Education Model: Arts Education, Arts Integration, and Arts Exposure. Sessions will be centered on the four K-12 Arts Education Standards core strands of Connect, Create, Present, and Respond.
Learn more about the call for presenters: https://go.ncdpi.gov/26CAEC_P or click the button below.
The Division of Public Health, Communicable Disease Branch is excited to announce the Annual “Fight
the Bite!” campaign. We want you to help us educate North Carolinians about the prevention of vectorborne diseases by ‘fighting the bite!’ Ticks and mosquitoes cause a great deal of illness in North Carolina,
including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and La Crosse Encephalitis. We invite all K-12
students across the state to create and submit an educational poster that may be used in this statewide
campaign. We hope your participation will be a fun and valuable learning experience.
If you are a parent or teacher of a participating student, please help them follow the instructions below
to create their poster and submit it on time. Students should design their posters with a clear message
about how they plan to “Fight the Bite!” and prevent tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses.
Rules:
1. The poster contest is open to all K-12 students across the state of North Carolina. There will be
three grade categories: K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
2. Students must create their posters on an 8 ½” X 11” sheet of paper in either landscape or
portrait layout. Only one submission per student is allowed.
3. All art must be original! Submissions should be colorful and eye-catching. Any text should be
large enough to read, legible, and spelled correctly.
4. Students may pick any theme related to “Fight the Bite” or any topic relating to the prevention
of tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses.
5. Each participating student should fill out an entry form and tape it to the back of their poster.
Do not staple.
6. The deadline to submit posters is Monday, May 18, 2026.
7. Posters must be mailed to the address below in an envelope big enough to hold the poster
without folding and should be labeled “Do Not Fold”. Posters can also be scanned and emailed
to emily.herring@dhhs.nc.gov. Fax submissions will not be accepted. Mail your submissions to:
Dr. Emily Herring
1902 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1902
NCDPI Growing Success for MLs and The Standards Academy
NCDPI's 2026 Growing Success for Multilingual Learners (MLs) Summer Conference and The Standards Academy offers educators across North Carolina an opportunity to deepen their understanding of standards-aligned instruction and effective practices that support MLs.
What Makes This Special? Dual Conference Access – Attend sessions from both conferences at one location, at no cost. Consider bringing a team to maximize learning and collaboration.
Flexible Attendance Options – Choose from the in-person location or attend virtually to fit your schedule and preferences.
- June 23 - 25 at Cleveland High School in Johnston County
- July 13 - 16 online
Expert-Led Sessions – Engage with best practices, collaboration strategies, and proven methods for elevating multilingual learner success and implementing state standards, including these sessions designed for World Language administrators and teachers:
- Championing MLs Home and Heritage Languages: CDM, Honors Courses, and the Seal of Biliteracy
- Exploring World Language Policies & Programs: DL/I, Honors Courses, and the Seal of Biliteracy
- Implementing the World Language Standards in K-12 Classrooms
Professional Networking – Connect with fellow educators, exchange ideas, and build lasting professional relationships.
Please click on the button below or the flyer in this article to access additional details, including registration.
|
 Registration is open now for Level I of App State’s Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education Program, held June 15-26, 2026. Tuition assistance is available, including special pricing for teachers in several school systems in Western North Carolina.
ORFF LEVEL I
June 15-26, 2026
Register by April 1 for the Early Bird Discount!
- On-campus housing options
- Tuition assistance available
- Offering Orff courses since 2002!
Presented by:
- Dr. Maribeth Yoder-White, Pedagogy
- Jennifer Prestridge, Recorder and Movement
Learn more and register at music.appstate.edu/orff
For questions, contact Erin Ellington at ellingtone@appstate.edu.
 This new feature in the arts ed newsletter highlights data from the National Arts Education Data Project and how others are using the data to shape conversations around the nation.
To start conversations about NC Arts Education data, visit the dashboard at:
artsednc.org/resources/arts-education-data-project/
On its own, a number like 4.8% does not actually tell us very much.
Is it a temporary fluctuation? A structural decline? A reflection of changing access or student demand? Without context, it is just a statistic. Numbers only become powerful when we understand how they change over time and what conditions are shaping them.
In this case, context changes everything.
In South Carolina, 4.8% represents the theatre participation rate for the 2024 school year. After five years of relative stability, this number reflects a sharp and significant decline from 2023, raising questions about what changed in the system.
According to the data:
-
The theatre participation rate is 4.8% in 2024
-
This represents a 22% decrease from 2023 (6.2%)
- Participation trends from 2019–2024:
-
2019–2023: relatively stable around 6.0–6.3%
-
2024: 4.8%, a clear break from prior levels
Grade-level theatre participation patterns:
-
Middle: 8%
-
High: 5%
-
Elementary: 3%
-
Mixed-grade schools: 3%
Theatre Enrollment by free/reduced meal (FRM) category (known data only):
- Low (≤25%): 9%
- Mid-Low (≤50%): 6%
- Mid-High (≤75%): 4%
- High (>75%): 4%
Theatre Student counts provide additional context:
-
2024 Arts students: 37,816
-
2023 Arts students: 48,551
-
This reflects a 22% decline in student counts, aligning with the drop in participation rate
This number reflects a system-level disruption rather than a gradual shift.
Several structural patterns are evident:
- Participation remained stable for multiple years, suggesting established program capacity prior to 2024
-
The sudden drop in both participation rate and student counts indicates a broad change rather than an incremental decline
-
Theatre participation is strongest in middle school, suggesting earlier exposure exists but is not sustained at the same level into high school
-
Enrollment declines as school poverty increases, indicating access disparities across school contexts
-
The alignment between declining participation rates and total student counts suggests reduced access or program availability, not simply reduced student interest
This is not a slow erosion. It is a break in the pattern.
A sharp one-year decline signals potential structural change.
What it confirms:
- Theatre participation in South Carolina dropped significantly in 2024
- The decline is mirrored in both percentage rates and student counts
- Participation varies meaningfully by grade level and school poverty level
What it does not yet reveal:
- Whether the decline reflects program cuts, scheduling changes, or data/reporting shifts
- If this is a one-year anomaly or the beginning of a longer trend
- Whether recovery is already underway or requires intervention
Sudden changes demand closer attention than gradual trends.
Use 4.8% as a signal, not just a statistic.
Talking points:
- “Theatre participation in South Carolina dropped by 22% in a single year.”
- “This decline is reflected in both participation rates and total student enrollment.”
- “Access gaps are larger in higher-poverty schools.”
- Key advocacy question:
What changed between 2023 and 2024 that caused such a sharp decline in theatre participation?
A stable system rarely declines this quickly without cause. The priority now is identifying what shifted—and whether it can be reversed.
Technology as an Instrument
Treat technology as core classroom instruments. Explore this course Technology as an Instrument on the Music Will Academy that unlocks new levels of scaffolding, sound design, and accessibility for every student using the Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs): Garage Band and Soundtrap.
InTune Magazine
-
Students can learn tried-and-true tactics for practicing variations on themes and a thought-provoking piece on creating hits in the age of algorithms!
-
Teachers can look for tips on strengthening creativity and performance through Music Literacy and tips on lab learning!
|
The Power of Student Voices: 2026 Songwriting Exhibition
When a student writes their own song, they aren't just learning notes—they’re finding their voice. Music Will is thrilled to announce the 2026 Songwriting Exhibition designed to celebrate the original works of students and educators alike.
The exhibition highlights the heart of music education, featuring original compositions across many different styles and genres. The Music Will Songwriting Exhibition is a powerful opportunity to see the real-world impact of learner-led instruction and to celebrate the creativity of students around the nation.
Join the celebration on Friday, April 24, 2026, featuring 8-time Grammy nominee, Allison Russell, who will provide video feedback on a select group of songs. Interact with a moderated Padlet map to leave positive comments and encouragement for songwriters across the country. Access the guided listening worksheets and engage with original music. It’s a great way to have students respond to music and meet the National Arts Standards.
Discover Music Will
Discover free resources for teachers and students at the “Getting Started with Music Will” page. Subscribe to the Music WiIll newsletter.
|
 Welcome to the North Carolina Arts Council Arts Education Corner! The North Carolina Arts Council Arts Education Corner is a new monthly newsletter feature supporting arts educators statewide. Each month, we'll share valuable resources, highlight opportunities for teachers and students, and showcase the incredible work of schools, organizations and teaching artists who are making an impact in their communities.
Creativity in motion—the impact of arts-integrated teaching
When teaching artist Hobey Ford brings his puppetry into a school, something magical happens, and creativity suddenly drives learning. Hobey is an award‑winning puppeteer and educator who uses arts integration to teach subjects like migration, metamorphosis, and folktales. Using multiple puppetry techniques, he creates work that captivates students and adults alike. What Hobey achieves through puppetry reflects a larger educational truth—arts integration transforms learning by reaching students in ways traditional methods often cannot.
Read the full blog post to learn more about Hobey Ford and arts integration.
Interested in becoming an A+ school?
A+ Schools will be accepting new schools into the A+ network in the summer of 2027. If your school is interested in joining the A+ network, please contact Lori Cozzi, the Senior Program Director for Arts Learning at the North Carolina Arts Council at lori.cozzi@dncr.nc.gov.
A+ Schools of North Carolina is a whole-school transformation model that views the arts as fundamental to teaching and learning. Through professional development, technical support, and mentoring, each A+ school develops a unique and creative school identity that elevates teacher retention, student engagement, and student achievement. Check out Become an A+ School to learn more.
|
North Carolina's Vision for Comprehensive Arts Education
In today's globally competitive world, innovative thinking and creativity are essential for all school children. High quality, standards-based instruction in the arts develops these skills and effectively engages, retains, and prepares future-ready students for graduation and success in an entrepreneurial economy. Dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts, taught by licensed arts educators and integrated throughout the curriculum, are critical to North Carolina's 21st century education. (Senate Bill 66: Comprehensive Arts Education Task Force, 2010)
Learn More about Comprehensive Arts Education
NCDPI Arts Education - NCDPI Arts Education Website
@ncartsed - NCDPI Arts Education Instagram
@nck12artsed - NCDPI Facebook
Contact Us!
Laura Stauderman: K-12 Dance and Visual Arts Consultant
Brandon Roeder: K-12 Music and Theatre Arts Consultant
|
Disclaimer Statement
The links on this page will bring you to third-party websites, owned and operated by independent parties over which NCDPI has no control. Any link you make to or from these 3rd Party Websites will be at your own risk. Any use of these 3rd Party Websites and any information you provide will be subject to and governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy, and security.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, NCDPI is not in any way associated with the owner or operator of any of the 3rd Party Websites or responsible or liable for the goods and services offered by them or for anything in connection with such 3rd Party Websites. NCDPI does not endorse and makes no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of any 3rd Party Website.
|
