MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont Arts Council has received $38,000 in grants to support a program that gives arts experiences to low-income children and their families.
The program is a partnership between Head Start programs and local arts organizations. It also provides professional development to Head Start classroom teachers.
The grants will allow the Head Start Arts Partnership Program to provide arts experiences to 350 children and their families and offer professional development for 42 teachers through 24 twelve-week teaching artist residencies, organizers said.
“Numerous studies have shown that integrating the arts into classrooms positively impacts children’ learning,” said Ben Doyle, VAC’s education programs manager. “Our goal is to help Head Start teachers successfully integrate the arts into their classrooms by providing sustained professional development with professional artists.”
The grants include $30,000 from the A .D. Henderson Foundation and $8,000 from the Adelard A. Roy and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation.
The partners include Central Vermont Community Action Council Head Start, Barre; Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier; River Arts, Morrisville; United Counseling Services Head Start, North Bennington; Vermont Arts Exchange, North Bennington; Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity Head Start, Burlington; Burlington City Arts, Burlington; Northeast Kingdom Community Action Head Start, St. Johnsbury; Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury.
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