TITLE: Recognizing March 4-5, 2013, as Arts Education Days at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 4-5, 2013, as Arts Education Days at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Among the notable resources of the State of Texas are the talent and creativity of its citizens, and hundreds of young artists are visiting Austin to share their talents through performances and displays on March 4-5, 2013, in celebration of an event organized by the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education, Arts Education Days at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, More than 1.5 million middle and high school students in Texas are enrolled in fine arts courses, and over 2.3 million elementary school students are receiving fine arts instruction, with more than 10,000 creative men and women teaching the classes; and WHEREAS, Visual art, music, theater, and dance offer important opportunities for self-expression, and early exposure to the arts through educational programs greatly increases the quality of a child's education; studies have found that students who participate in fine arts courses in school not only perform better in other academic courses, but also achieve higher scores on standardized tests; and WHEREAS, In Texas, studies of public school enrollment have found that campuses with a higher percentage of students in fine arts courses achieved higher academic ratings; moreover, campuses that showed an improvement in their academic rating from 2006 to 2010 also reported increases in fine arts course enrollments, and campuses with a higher percentage of students enrolled in fine arts courses reported higher graduation rates; and WHEREAS, Fine arts courses promote innovative thinking, a skill that is essential to succeed in college and the 21st century workforce, and they can further provide unique lessons in the cultures of the world; and WHEREAS, The contributions of those who engage in the arts enrich the lives of us all, and it is indeed fitting to take this opportunity to honor Texas art students and their teachers and to wish them well in their creative endeavors; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 4-5, 2013, as Arts Education Days at the State Capitol and welcome the students and teachers who are participating in this special event; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Farney Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 689 was adopted by the House on March 4, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House