Research for Better Schools

Recent Evaluation Projects

Title: Classroom Arts Project

Sponsor/Funder: Partners in Distance Learning (PDL)

Target Audience: PDL Staff

Collaborating Agencies: Berwick Area School District

Dates: 2003 - 2006

Description: Partners in Distance Learning (PDL) and the Berwick School District in Pennsylvania received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to bring art expertise into the classrooms of rural teachers. Specifically, the Classroom Arts Project (CAP) links teachers with professional artists through its Teacher Arts Network Web site and periodic in-person workshops and meetings. RBS serves as the third-party evaluator for this project in order to assess the extent to which project activities increase classroom arts integration and enhance students' academic skills. Specifically, RBS:

  • Researches relevant federal projects similar to the goals, objectives, and intent of the project.
  • Recommends testing and assessment tools.
  • Utilizes student performance measures as a basis for examining impact in CAP schools.
  • Examines evidence of arts-rich environments in CAP classrooms.
  • Develops and administers surveys for teachers, students, administrators, and parents to determine attitudes toward arts integrated activities.
  • Provides an independent analysis of the data.

Outcomes : Since initial implementation activities took longer than anticipated, progress during Year 1 was limited largely to the development and fine-tuning of the interactive CAP Web site. Eleven professional artists have been matched with participating classroom teachers. Conferences were held in April 2003, April 2004, and October 2004 to provide an opportunity for the two groups to meet in person. Evaluators administered baseline surveys to participants and artists, and will continue to assess program implementation. RBS will conduct participant interviews and site visit observations to assess the extent to which teachers fuse arts into activities. The performance in mathematics and reading of students taught by CAP teachers will also be analyzed.

Products and/or Web Links :

  • http://cap.partnersdl.org
  • Feighan, K. (May 2005). Rural Arts Infusion Classroom Arts Project Federal Grant Program, Interim Report and Evaluation Plan, Year 2 . Philadelphia, PA: Research for Better Schools.

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