Kerry Washington is doing more than just saving reputations on her new ABC drama Scandal– she’s improving the lives of our young children.
She is one of several celebrities adopting some of the nation’s worst-performing schools to help turn them around by integrating arts education. Forest Whitaker, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alfre Woodard and more took the pledge Monday to aid the Obama administration in a Turnaround Arts initiative.
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“It’s not that the arts are something to put on in the final period of the day once all the real work is done,” she told the Associated Press. “Arts are actually how we can help them get the real work done.”
Washington, who will adopt a District of Columbia school over the next two years, explains that the simple incorporation of more music training can help improve student math scores.
The pilot project will also work with officials from the White House and U.S. Department of Education to reduce behavioral problems and increase student attendance, engagement and academic success. The AP reports the initiative will target eight high-poverty elementary and middle schools in both urban and rural areas around the country.
The Turnaround Arts initiative will bring art supplies, musical instruments and new training for educators at the Aspen Institute.