The Newark Board of Education is kicking off the 2019-2020 school year and National Arts in Education Week with a large increase in Visual and Performing Arts Teaching Staff. Over 25 new positions were added inclusive of drama, music, theater, and visual arts for this academic year. According to Superintendent León, “These new positions were created because our children deserve to celebrate the arts”. In addition, he stated “This investment is being made to demonstrate the true genius of our students in the classroom, as well as in the visual and performing arts”.
Margaret El, the Director of Visual and Performing Arts states, “We are excited to know that more of our students will be able to experience and achieve basic literacy in multiple art forms at the K-5 level and the opportunity to achieve competency and mastery in at least one art form from grades 6 through 12.