A new report compiling the results of seven major studies provides important new evidence of enhanced learning and achievement when the arts are an integral part of the educational experience, both in and out of America's K-12 schools.

Top Research and Education teams met on October 22 in Washington D.C. to review key findings and released a report entitled: Champions of Change: The Impact of Arts on Learning. The report offers evidence of how the arts can improve academic performance, energize teachers and transform learning environments. Among the findings is evidence that students with high levels of arts participation outperform "arts-poor" students on virtually every measure and that arts experiences enhance "critical thinking" abilities and outcomes.

Champions of Change was developed with support of The GE Fund, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Arts Education Partnership and the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.