R 159
2025 -- S 0837
Enacted 03/18/2025

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING MARCH OF 2025 AS “ARTS IN THE SCHOOLS MONTH” IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Lawson, LaMountain, Pearson, Zurier, Felag, Euer, Rogers, Acosta, and Ujifusa

Date Introduced: March 18, 2025

     WHEREAS, The arts enhance and enrich the lives of every Rhode Islander; and
     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island has clear evidence that the arts contribute
significantly to our quality of life, the education of our citizens and the economy of our state; and
     WHEREAS, Arts learning fosters school attendance and participation, as well as
teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, public speaking, cultural
competency, and resiliency, all essential skills that employers require in a 21st century economy;
and
     WHEREAS, With new regulations and policies in place, arts education in our schools can
be quantified to present a full picture of arts education in the Ocean State; and
     WHEREAS, The R.I. State Council on the Arts went through a public process to
overhaul the Project Grants in Education application and evaluation criteria to better deliver
support and services to arts educators and teaching artists; and
     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Education has published an Arts
Curriculum Framework to support high-quality, standards-based arts instruction for all students;
and
     WHEREAS, Arts education in the schools provides substantial, unique educational
benefits to all elementary, middle and secondary students, helping students stay engaged in
school and graduate with proficiency ready to enter the R.I. workforce; and
     WHEREAS, The National Art Education Association, the American Alliance for Theatre
and Education, the Educational Theatre Association, the National Association for Music
Education, and the National Dance Education Organization designate the month of March as
“Youth Arts Month”; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaim the month of
March 2025 to be “Arts in the Schools Month” in our state. We furthermore urge all the citizens
of the state to join us in the observance of this month, and to recognize and applaud the efforts of
arts educators, artists, and administrators, who work diligently to ensure that all young people
have access to the arts in their school throughout the school year; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.
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