Designed by a team of psychologists, educators, and artists, P.S. ARTS’ model is derived from frameworks for quality in arts education and overall school improvement endorsed by Harvard University and the U.S. Department of Education. Our programs are rooted in the understanding that learning is a hands-on, constructive process driven by participants’ knowledge and curiosity and influenced by socio-cultural factors. Curricular content is framed by a unifying theme, and is in alignment with state and national arts education standards, the Teaching Tolerance Anti-Bias Framework, and the CA Department of Education’s guiding principles for Social Emotional Learning.

CLASSROOM STUDIO provides fine arts residencies that engage K-5th-grade students in dance, music, theater, and visual arts during the school day. Led by Teaching Artists, the program is offered through a series of 10-week Arts Rotations covering multiple fine arts disciplines or 30-week Arts Intensives in a single fine arts discipline. Lessons are framed around students’ curiosity and interests and incorporate artists and artworks that represent a broad range of lived experiences, cultures, eras, abilities, and perspectives.

EXTENDED LEARNING consists of arts education opportunities for 6th-8th-grade students outside of regular instruction hours, including lunchtime, afterschool, and summer. The award-winning Inside Out Community Arts program is offered afterschool and promotes social-emotional learning through theater arts training.

We supplement our arts education programs through COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT activities, which provide opportunities for families to make art together and create the foundation for more supportive learning environments. Examples include Family Art Nights, whole-family art-making events, and P.S. ARTS To Go, free online arts activities.

The FACULTY TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION Program is a blended learning course that deepens Teaching Artists’ capacity to provide student-centered, culturally responsive programs. Recently, P.S. ARTS launched a new Teaching Artist Seasonal Intensive in an effort to grow and diversify our faculty roster.