Arkansas A+, in the College of Education and Health Professions, is dedicated to transforming education through the arts.

The organization recently received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that will support the first year of A+ across an entire school, launching a three-year transformation process.

Whole-School Transformation is at the heart of Arkansas A+, offering a research-based framework that weaves the arts into core academic subjects. This approach enhances student engagement, fosters creativity and supports cognitive development while strengthening a school's culture. The program provides intensive summer institutes, interdisciplinary arts training and hands-on workshops where educators explore new strategies for incorporating the arts into their curricula.

Amber Williams, a kindergarten teacher in the Guy-Perkins School District, appreciates A+ for its support and hands-on, experiential learning. She said experiencing A+ in this way brings smiles and laughter to her and her fellow teachers. Williams enjoys incorporating A+ into her classroom lesson plans "to see the same expressions on my students' faces while learning."

Throughout the school year, A+ staff and fellows provide tailored professional development and strategic meetings to support educators in their efforts.

"I had high expectations for Arkansas A+, and they exceeded them in every way," said Valerie Partain, a dyslexia interventionist at Guy-Perkins. She said the summer institute with A+ was just the beginning. "We created, imagined, laughed and connected," she said. "This experience brought our staff closer as a team and sparked an eagerness to incorporate the arts in our daily instruction."

The A+ Transformation model has a demonstrated history of boosting student achievement, decreasing disciplinary incidents and enhancing teacher satisfaction.

Executive Director Alyssa Wilson said the $20,000 NEA grant will help A+ foster ongoing change.

"With NEA's support, A+ can create a lasting impact at an entire school by empowering teachers to make small, meaningful shifts in their approach to teaching," she said. "A+ creates a ripple effect where all those small changes build on one another to shape creative and innovative classrooms, leaving an enduring influence on the students a teacher has today and throughout their career."

Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the nation's largest public funder of the arts and arts education. As an independent federal agency, the NEA supports artistic excellence and innovation while expanding access to the arts.