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S.J.R. 9
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RESOLUTION ON FUNDING THE ARTS IN
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PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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2000 GENERAL SESSION
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STATE OF UTAH
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Sponsor: Karen Hale
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A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE ENCOURAGING THE STATE BOARD OF
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EDUCATION AND LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO ADOPT WRITTEN POLICIES THAT
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VALUE THE ARTS AS A CORE CURRICULUM SUBJECT AND TO WORK WITH STATE
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AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO IDENTIFY
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RESOURCES TO ADEQUATELY PROVIDE FOR THE FUNDING OF ARTS PROGRAMS
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IN THE STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
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Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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WHEREAS, recent national studies have confirmed that students with high levels of arts
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participation outperform students who have had little or no involvement with the arts by virtually
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every measure;
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WHEREAS, people learn in many different ways, and the arts provide a wide variety of
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ways to successfully learn, increasing student self confidence and the potential to learn more;
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WHEREAS, the arts require that students learn self-motivation and self-discipline that the
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students can apply to other courses and encourage students to aim high and achieve academic
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excellence in all subjects through performing in music, dance, visual art, and creative writing;
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WHEREAS, research shows that the arts actually stimulate neurological development,
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which is important to all areas of learning, and that the important thinking and learning skills that
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are taught through the arts include how to solve problems, how to make decisions, how to ask
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questions and analyze information, and how to figure out the next step in a project;
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WHEREAS, arts education teaches students to work cooperatively as a team, dealing with
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different points of view, as students work together on a play, concert, dance, mural, or writing
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project together;
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WHEREAS, the arts teach creativity, a skill that is needed in all areas of living and
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working;
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WHEREAS, recent research has shown that students who are not having positive
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experiences in their traditional academic classroom settings often become high achievers in arts
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learning settings and that success in the arts becomes a bridge to learning and eventual success in
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other areas of learning;
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WHEREAS, an arts education builds specific workforce skills that business values and it
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also builds values that connect children to themselves and to their own culture and civilization;
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WHEREAS, the public is demanding more than ever from our public schools, wanting to
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equip young people for professionally and personally rewarding careers, and it recognizes that to
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do so those young people must be given greatly enriched experiences; and
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WHEREAS, researchers have confirmed that young people can be better prepared for the
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21st Century through quality learning experiences in and through the arts:
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the State Board
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of Education and local school boards to adopt written polices that value the arts as a core
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curriculum subject and to collaborate with state and local government, business, and community
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leaders to identify and secure financial resources to adequately fund the arts in the state's public
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schools.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the State Board of
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Education and local school boards to cooperatively develop a plan to strengthen arts education
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throughout the public education system.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the State Board of
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education and the state's forth local school boards.
Legislative Review Note
as of 2-7-00 2:35 PM
A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.