NATIONAL ARTS PUBLICATION DATABASE (NAPD)
The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth: Findings from Four Longitudinal Studies

Author: Catterall, James S.

Publication Year: 2012

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This report examines arts-related variables from four large datasets -- three maintained by the U.S. Department of Education and one by the Department of Labor -- to understand the relationship between arts engagement and positive academic and social outcomes in children and young adults of low socioeconomic status (SES). Conducted by James Catterall, University of California Los Angeles, et al., the analyses show that achievement gaps between high- and low-SES groups appear to be mitigated for children and young adults who have arts-rich backgrounds.

Abstract:

This report examines the academic and civic behavior outcomes of teenagers and young adults whohave engaged deeply with the arts in or out of school.
 
In several small-group studies, children and teenagers who participated in arts education programs have shown more positive academic and social outcomes in comparison to students who did not participate in those programs. Such studies have proved essential to the current research literature on the types of instrumental benefits associated with an arts education.
 
A standard weakness of the literature, however, has been a dearth of large-scale, longitudinal studies following the same populations over time, tracking the outcomes of students who received intensive arts exposure or arts learning compared with students who did not. The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth is a partial attempt to fill this knowledge gap. The report’s authors, James Catterall et al., use four large national databases to analyze the relationship between arts involvement and academic and social achievements.

Arts & Intersections: Youth Education

Categories: Arts Education, Access and Equity

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Pages: 28

Resources: Document

PUBLISHER INFORMATION

Name: National Endowment for the Arts

Website URL: http://www.arts.gov