PRINTER'S NO. 400
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 38
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY COMITTA, CAPPELLETTI, SCHWANK, FONTANA, STREET,
BROWN, HUGHES, HUTCHINSON, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, MILLER, KANE,
STEFANO, SANTARSIERO AND MASTRIANO, MARCH 17, 2025
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MARCH 17, 2025
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of March 2025 as "Music in Our Schools
2 Month," "Theater in Our Schools Month," "Dance in Our Schools
3 Month" and "Youth Art Month" in Pennsylvania.
4 WHEREAS, Arts education experiences have substantive effects
5 on student academic, social and emotional outcomes; and
6 WHEREAS, Social and emotional learning skills are more
7 necessary than ever; and
8 WHEREAS, Research and studies have shown that engagement in
9 arts education has a positive impact on student compromise,
10 teamwork, compassion and empathy for others; and
11 WHEREAS, The Federal Every Student Succeeds Act recognizes
12 fine arts programs as fulfilling the requirement that each
13 school provide a well-rounded education to students; and
14 WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, students in kindergarten
15 through 12th grade must be provided with instruction in fine
16 arts disciplines, including music, dance, theater and visual
17 art; and
18 WHEREAS, Disadvantaged students who receive an arts education
 1 are three times more likely to earn a bachelor's degree than
2 students who lack those experiences; and
3 WHEREAS, The study of music engages students in creative,
4 cultural, aesthetic, intellectual, social, physical and
5 emotional development; and
6 WHEREAS, Music education helps develop students' skills
7 critical to 21st century learning for success in school and
8 life; and
9 WHEREAS, These skills are integral to the economy of this
10 Commonwealth; and
11 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association is
12 leading the conversation Statewide on the importance of quality
13 music education in schools; and
14 WHEREAS, Theater education teaches invaluable skills needed
15 to be successful in the workforce, including the ability to
16 listen, artistic sense, nonverbal communication, enthusiasm and
17 storytelling; and
18 WHEREAS, Drama instruction integrated into elementary
19 classrooms improves students' social and emotional development
20 and contributes to a positive classroom culture; and
21 WHEREAS, English language learners in kindergarten through
22 second grade who received weekly drama lessons demonstrated
23 increased listening and speaking skills on standardized tests;
24 and
25 WHEREAS, Reading play scripts out loud has been found to help
26 at-risk middle school students become better readers; and
27 WHEREAS, Only 28% of public high schools in high-poverty
28 areas offer theater instruction; and
29 WHEREAS, The Educational Theatre Association envisions every
30 student will have access to theater taught by qualified
20250SR0038PN0400 - 2 -
 1 educators as a vital part of a well-rounded education and is
2 dedicated to shaping lives through theater education; and
3 WHEREAS, Education in the art of dance develops the knowledge
4 and skills required to create, perform and understand movement
5 as a means of artistic communication; and
6 WHEREAS, A comprehensive education in dance includes
7 improvisation, technique, choreography, performance, observation
8 and analysis; and
9 WHEREAS, Dance education engages the artistic processes of
10 creating, performing and critical analysis by requiring students
11 to read symbol systems, use critical thinking skills, excel in
12 nonverbal reasoning and communication, exchange ideas, work
13 cooperatively and collaboratively with others and interact in a
14 multicultural society; and
15 WHEREAS, Student achievement, teacher satisfaction and school
16 culture are improved through dance education as demonstrated by
17 increased reading and STEM test scores, improved memory
18 retention and cognitive connections and enhanced teacher and
19 school morale; and
20 WHEREAS, The National Dance Education Organization is
21 dedicated to advancing dance education for individuals of all
22 backgrounds; and
23 WHEREAS, Visual arts education is valuable in developing
24 divergent and critical thinking, multicultural awareness and
25 technical, communication and expressive skills among students;
26 and
27 WHEREAS, The Council for Art Education promotes quality
28 school visual art education programs in kindergarten through
29 12th grade across the United States; and
30 WHEREAS, The Council for Art Education's "Youth Art Month"
20250SR0038PN0400 - 3 -
 1 theme for 2025 is "Healing through Color"; and
2 WHEREAS, "Youth Art Month" recognizes art education as a
3 viable factor in the total education curriculum and directs
4 attention to the value of art education for divergent and
5 critical thinking; therefore be it
6 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of March 2025
7 as "Music in Our Schools Month," "Theater in Our Schools Month,"
8 "Dance in Our Schools Month" and "Youth Art Month" in
9 Pennsylvania; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize schools and certified
11 arts educators in efforts to provide more robust, comprehensive
12 arts education curriculum for students in kindergarten through
13 12th grade; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the positive impact that
15 music, theater, dance and visual art education has on
16 communities and students across this Commonwealth to help raise
17 awareness regarding the need for access to quality programs for
18 all students regardless of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity
19 or ability.
20250SR0038PN0400 - 4 -