San Diego program introduces social and emotional arts education to classrooms.
The San Diego Unified School District, in collaboration with the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Foundation, is set to introduce a new initiative aimed at enhancing social and emotional learning through the arts in schools with limited access to such programs. This initiative, supported by a million grant known as the Prebys Sparx Award, focuses on training educators in the use of expressive arts, equipping them with the skills to foster personal growth, social connection, and engagement within the classroom.
The foundational philosophy behind expressive arts emphasizes the importance of creativity in educational settings. By tapping into students’ imaginations and sensory experiences, educators aim to foster deeper connections among peers and encourage exploration of self-identity. The VAPA Foundation plans to work closely with alternative educational sites that cater to students facing mental health challenges and those receiving home hospital instruction, ensuring that these vulnerable populations are not overlooked.
Highlighting the initiative’s impact, Russ Sperling, the district’s director of visual and performing arts, mentioned the importance of utilizing data related to arts programs. This collaboration allows the VAPA Foundation to identify schools where arts programs can make the most significant difference. The initiative includes a comprehensive 60-hour training program focused on trauma-informed instruction and social-emotional learning, set to provide educational support to 25 schools, impacting over 4,700 students. Looking ahead, the goal is to expand this reach to 135 classrooms in the upcoming school year.
In collaboration with 14 community partners, the program will also enable 50 teaching artists to undergo specialized training. The disciplines covered include theater, dance, visual art, writing, puppetry, and storytelling, creating a rich and diverse arts education ecosystem. The foundation aims to not only track the quantifiable benefits of arts education but also to recognize the qualitative improvements in student well-being, social interactions, and overall classroom culture.
Sperling has observed that students engaged in arts programs are more likely to attend school regularly and participate actively in class, contributing to improved academic performance and a stronger sense of community within the school. The introduction of this initiative also supplements existing funding from Proposition 28, passed by voters in 2022 to bolster arts education. While Sperling acknowledges that the funding provided by Prop. 28 has been beneficial, he emphasizes that it is not a comprehensive solution to the funding issues faced by arts programs.
Overall, the initiative led by the San Diego Unified School District and the VAPA Foundation aims to harness the transformative power of the arts to nurture social-emotional skills and foster a vibrant educational atmosphere for all students, particularly those in underserved settings. As the program progresses, it promises to not only enhance the quality of arts education but also to cultivate a more supportive and engaging learning environment across the district.
