Research

Theatre Counts – How Theatre Education Transforms Students’ Lives

Arts Education Partnership

People have long recognized the benefits of theatre education for academic outcomes in both theatre and other subjects, but did you know about the benefits it has for learners’ identity development, peer relations and self-awareness? This new special report from the Arts Education Partnership explores the impacts of theatre education on students and their development, as well as outcomes for educators as they strive to create empowering learning environments.

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Investigating Causal Effects of Arts Education Experiences

by: RICE | Houston Education Research Consortium

The report encourages policymakers to be mindful and considerate of these multifaceted educational benefits when assessing the opportunity costs that come with decisions pertaining to the provision of the arts in schools.

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Engaging the Arts Across the Juvenile Justice System

by Education Commission of the States and the Arts Education Partnership

This Special Report explores research and programs that employ the arts along the juvenile justice continuum: in prevention, intervention, transition and healing.

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Visual Arts Matter

by Arts Education Partnership and National Art Education Association

Visual arts can be a powerful discipline to support success throughout a student’s education, both within and outside of school settings. We experience visual arts each day, whether through our own creativity or everyday objects, such as the design of a cereal box or logo of a favorite sports team. For students, engaging with visual arts might take place during an art class, through a trip to an art museum or by participating in an arts-integrated English class. As students learn to create, respond and connect to their surroundings, experiences with visual arts help them to gain skills that positively impact their school experience.

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A Population-Level Analysis of Associations Between School Music Participation and Academic Achievement

by Journal of Educational Psychology

This large-scale study identified evidence of positive relationships between school music participation and high school exam scores in English, mathematics, and science using population-level educational records for over 110,000 students in British Columbia, Canada. Participation in school music (especially instrumental music) was related to higher exam scores, and students with higher levels of school music engagement had higher exam scores.

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The Arts and Dropout Prevention: The Power of Art to Engage

by National Drop Out Prevention Center/Network

Arts education is associated with lower dropout rates, as well as better academic outcomes. Studying the arts promotes academic selfefficacy and school engagement (predictors of persistence to graduation), and it enhances socioemotional skills valued in social relationships, the workplace, and education settings. As research continues to clarify those connections, and dropout prevention strategies are consciously integrated into arts education, arts education should be considered more intentionally as a dropout prevention strategy.

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Arts-Based Programs and Arts Therapies for At-Risk, Justice-Involved, and Traumatized Youths

by U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)

The study found that, among children and teenagers from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, those with high levels of arts engagement showed more positive outcomes on indicators such as school grades, test scores, and high-school graduation rates, compared with youths with low levels of arts engagement.

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Review of the Literature: Impact of Music on Children with Special Needs

Dominican University of California, Scholarship and Engagement in Education

Art is beneficial not only to those who receive it but also to those who engage in its creation. This sets the context for looking at the arts as therapy in multiple contexts; there is a long history of art therapy that has existed and evolved for centuries in a variety of formats. There is a need to explore art as therapy for different populations, including its impact on students with special needs. This paper examines the research literature on music and students with special needs. Information was gathered from academic library searches of peer-reviewed articles using online resources.

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Effect of a Performing Arts Program on the Oral Language Skills of Young English Learners

Christa Mulker Greenfader, Liane Brouillette, George Farkas

This study contributes to the growing body of literature on effective teaching strategies for bolstering the oral English skills of young English language learners. It examines the effectiveness of performing arts activities that pair language and vocabulary with movement, gesture, and expression, drawing on grounded cognition literature and social theories of language acquisition to explain how such activities contribute to language development.

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“It Just Made Me Want to Do Better for Myself”: Performing Arts Education and Academic Performance for African American Male High School Students

Calvin Wesley Walton

A wide body of research has examined the relationship between arts engagement and academic performance for the general population of students in U.S. schools. To date, few studies have examined the effects of arts-based learning experiences on African American males’ academic performance. To address this gap in the literature, this case study, featured in the International Journal of Education & the Arts, uses interviews and post-graduation outcomes to explore the effects of school-based performing arts engagement on academic performance among African American male high school students. Findings from this project indicate that immersion in school-based performing arts learning experiences strengthens academic skills development, improves overall school performance, and enhances post-school outcomes for African American male high school students. These findings suggest that bolstering arts-based school curricula and increasing access to performing arts learning experiences may improve school outcomes for African American males who attend U.S. public schools.

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It’s imperative to hear about the impact of our programs directly from our students! CAP’s vision is for Northeast Florida to lead the nation in providing essential arts education that recognizes, grows and amplifies every child’s unique skills and strengths. capkids.org ⭐️ #TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax
It's teacher appreciation week and we are all excited to celebrate our amazing CAP Teaching Artist Fellows, Teaching Artists, teaching assistants and classroom partners! 

Through CAP programs, children and young adults in NE Florida, across various educational settings receive quality, standards-based instruction in dance, music, theatre and visual arts. CAP also provides specialized programs designed for students with disabilities, including art counseling, music therapy and sensory arts. 

None of this would occur without the passion and dedication of our exemplary CAP teaching artists. We'd like to send them all a deep and resounding thank you, for the important work they do every day to empower each and every child’s creative spirit! #ThankATeacher #TheArtsAddUp
The first show of the Performing Arts Showcase 2025 is a wrap! Thank you to everyone who has supported our incredible performers this year -- no matter how you choose to show that support. None of this would be possible without you! #capkidsjax #artsed #theartsaddup
Performing Arts Showcase rehearsals are in progress here at the @jaxperformingartscenter! We're amazed at the dedication and talent on display this morning. Which performance are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments! #theartsaddup #artsed #showtime
CAP is grateful to announce that we have been awarded a Find Your Light Foundation 2025 grant! Their support allows us to continue to empower every child’s creative spirit, ensuring that students in Northeast Florida have access to quality arts education.

Find Your Light is dedicated to supporting exceptional arts programs where the need is greatest, recognizing arts education as an essential part of a young person’s development. Thank you, Find Your Light, for uplifting the power of the arts and helping us make a lasting impact! #capkidsjax
Spring for the Arts celebrates the impact you, our donors, have had on local students, and raises funds for CAP's REIMAGINE Campaign, with the ultimate goal of putting instruments, paintbrushes, scripts and dance shoes in the hands of more children in Northeast Florida than ever before. Get your tickets today at our link in bio! 🎉
Our mission is to inspire every child's creative spirit! #CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp #artsed #strings
Every heart needs art! Happy Valentines Day❤️
#TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax #artsed
It was an unforgettable day at the The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. Hundreds of guests enjoyed the fun and engaging activities during the CAP Family Day at the Cummer! 

Students and their families participated in Intro to Improv, Nature Printmaking, Needle Felting, World Drums, Positive Words Graffiti, Jazz-Tastic Dance, Boom Whackers, a Museum Scavenger Hunt and an Instrument Petting Zoo! Thanks to CAP Teaching Artist Fellows, staff and volunteers for your efforts today. Special thanks to the Cummer Museum for graciously hosting our amazing families! #CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp
Research indicates that theatre training for children significantly improves their public speaking skills by building confidence, enhancing vocal projection, developing effective body language and fostering emotional intelligence through character exploration. The practice of performing on stage in a supportive environment helps kids feel comfortable expressing themselves publicly and it's fun! Learn more about our theatre programs at capkids.org #TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax
Research from organizations like the Arts Education Partnership, show clear links between arts involvement and positive outcomes in academics, creative and critical thinking, personal behavior and social and civic participation. These benefits reinforce the essential value of the arts to enrich not only individual children and young adults, but also their communities. 

Through CAP programs, children and young adults receive quality, standards-based instruction in dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts. Learn more at capkids.org. #TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax
Did you know that the arts support students’ social and emotional development, increase empathy, reduce intolerance and generate acceptance of others?

School partnerships with arts organizations can mitigate disparities in students’ arts learning opportunities and resources. Studies consistently demonstrate that the arts are intrinsically beneficial and an essential component of a well-rounded education. Learn more about #artsed by visiting capkids.org. #TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax

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