Early Arts Education Plays Key Role In High Academic Achievement

Art education can play a key role in high academic achievement.

That’s according to Dr. Dianna Wood, the PreK through 4th Grade Instructional Supervisor for Putnam County Schools. She said that studies show that early arts education help students develop in a variety of ways.

“There are lots of benefits to art education,” Wood said. “It engages the child’s senses which actually help their cognitive development. Every time a child has a new experience and that’s always the case in art, their little brain makes more connections.”

Wood said that at an early age, it can also help students develop motor and language skills.

“Of course, I’m involved more in the elementary schools, but I think there is research that says if students do three days of art, not just visual arts but art in general, three hours a day, three times a week,” Wood said. “They are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.”

Wood said that as of now, art teachers aren’t funded at the elementary school level. She said schools have had to get creative to ensure that students can get that experience by using support staff or parent volunteers.

Wood said that goal is to eventually have an art teacher at every elementary school.