The ArtStart Program

Art Start is a unique program created at the request of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to provide teachers at local school sites with new tools and resources for teaching literacy skills. 

Through the use of an arts-integrated curriculum, 3rd and 4th grade classroom and arts (visual arts, music, dance, and theatre) teachers and professional teaching artists work together to strengthen students’ reading and writing skills while also providing them with quality arts instruction and raising students’ awareness and appreciation for the arts in our community.

Grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts have provided a portion of the funding to support ArtStart.

Participation Requirements
Eligible Participants-

• 3rd grade classroom teachers
• 4th grade classroom teachers
• Arts teachers (visual arts, music, dance, theatre)
• PE (physical education) teachers (who teach dance as a part of their curriculum)
• Literacy facilitators

School Requirements-

• Schools must register at least 3 teachers.
• At least one must be a 3rd or 4th grade classroom teacher, and it is highly recommended that at least one be an arts or PE Teacher.
• Whole grade level participation is encouraged.
• Schools that send at least 3 teachers to the Summer Workshop may send additional teachers to the Fall PD session; however, space is limited and preference will be given to new-hires and transfers.  The only exceptions will be for teachers who are transferred to a new, non-participating school after the Summer Workshop.
• Only teachers who attend the Summer Workshop or Fall PD event are eligible for an ArtStart Artist Residency.
• Teachers who attend the Summer Workshop and then transfer to another school within CMS are still eligible for an ArtStart Artist Residency at the new school, provided they are teaching at the 3rd or 4th grade level and at least two additional teachers participate in the Fall PD event.
• Teachers who attend the summer workshop but are transferred to a different grade level in the fall will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Teachers who are on the staff of more than one school must have at least three teachers from a school attending the Summer Workshop in order for that school to be eligible for an ArtStart Artist Residency.
• Schools that have sent more than 4 teachers per grade level have the option of selecting different Teaching Artists for each grade level.  If there are fewer than 4 teachers at a grade level, the school will be awarded the same Teaching Artist for both grade levels.

Lead Teacher-
Each school is responsible for choosing a Lead Teacher who will be the primary contact for that school.  The lead teacher is responsible for

• Filling out and submitting all forms and documents on time.
• Contacting the Teaching Artist.
• Organizing the planning and debriefing sessions and submitting the residency schedule to the ArtStart Coordinator.
• Supervising the implementation of the lesson plans created during the summer workshop and submitting the final, edited version prior to the start of the residency.
• Notifying the ArtStart Coordinator of any changes in the residency schedule.
• Submitting all post residency evaluations.

Lead Teachers are paid a stipend of $250, paid upon the submission of the Final Checklist and approval by the ArtStart Coordinator.

The ArtStart Artist Residency
Only teachers who participate in the Summer Workshop or the Fall PD are eligible to receive an ArtStart Artist Residency.

The Artist
ArtStart teaching artists are professional local and regional artists who have demonstrated an affinity for connecting their artistic ability with the elementary student and curriculum.
Artists receive ongoing professional development to keep them abreast of both current teaching methods and national standards

The Residency
Only teachers that participate in the Summer Workshop or the Fall PD are eligible for an ArtStart Artist Residency.

• The residency consists of 10 contact hours for each eligible class of students.  An eligible class is defined as a distinct group of students taught by an eligible teacher (see above).
• Class sessions held with the arts teachers count as part of the ten hours.
• The teaching artist and classroom teachers must meet for at least one hour, and up to three hours, of planning prior to the residency start date.
• The teaching artist and classroom teachers must also meet for a one hour debriefing meeting within two weeks of the last residency session.
• Teachers are expected to take an active role in the residency, and co-teach with the teaching artist.  The residency is meant to be a growth experience for the classroom teacher and teaching artist, as well as the students.

Summer Workshop
A four-day workshop that will take place July 27-30, 2009, where teachers dance, drum, sculpt, and act their way through a series of exciting sessions with a wide variety of local, regional, and even international artists as they model arts integration strategies for the classroom.  After seeing the arts in action, teachers come together to craft lesson plans for the coming year with the help and collaboration of the ArtStart Teaching Artists.  After planning their lesson and attending the Teaching Artist Showcase, teachers choose a teaching artist to come to their school for an ArtStart Artist Residency.

• In order to reap the greatest benefits from an ArtStart Artist Residency, participation of both grade level teachers and the arts specialist is essential. 
• At least 3 teachers from a school must participate in the summer workshop for the school to be eligible for an ArtStart Artist Residency, and it is strongly recommended that at least one be an arts or PE teacher. 

Artist Showcase

Lesson Planning and Implementation
At the Summer Workshop, teachers work together with the support of the Teaching Artists and ArtStart staff to craft arts integrated lessons that can be taken back and implemented in their classrooms. 

• Each school is responsible for creating two lessons, one to be implemented in the classroom by the grade level teacher, and one to be implemented in the arts classroom by the arts teacher. 
• The Lead Teacher from each school is responsible for seeing that the lessons are implemented, edited and submitted for publication on our website prior to the start of the residency. 
• The lesson plans created at the Summer Workshop must be implemented and submitted before the residency can begin.
• Lesson Plans are made available on our website for general use.

Additional Professional Development
Additional on-site professional development is available for schools by request.
There will be a second workshop held in September for new-hires and/or transferring teachers who wish to take part in the ArtStart program.
In order to attend the Fall PD, the school must have sent at least three teachers to the Summer Workshop.
Schools are limited to a maximum of five teachers at the fall workshop, although additional teachers may be put on a waiting list for available seats.