Ninety-three percent of parents and caretakers surveyed in a 2006 Harris poll believe the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for kids, a 2 percent increase over 2001.
And 86 percent think arts education improves a child's attitude toward school. Of 26,000 eighth graders studied, 77.9 percent of those intensively involved in arts went on to attend postsecondary schools, compared to 63 percent of those with negligible arts involvement.
Links:
[1] http://www.edutopia.org/edutopia-staff
[2] http://www.edutopia.org/arts-education-humanities-creativity
[3] http://www.edutopia.org/whats-next-2007-arts-education
[4] http://www.edutopia.org/arts-opening-minds-integration-video
[5] http://www.edutopia.org/music-art-curriculum-integration-video
[6] http://www.edutopia.org/sir-ken-robinson-creativity-part-one-video