Hamden, CT – August 22, 2024 – Arts for Learning CT (AFLCT) is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $65,000. This grant will support Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools, now in its 31st year. In total, the NEA will award 1,135 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $37 million as part of its second round of fiscal year 2024 grants.
“Projects like HOT Schools exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “So many aspects of our communities such as cultural vitality, health and wellbeing, infrastructure, and the economy are advanced and improved through investments in art and design, and the National Endowment for the Arts is committed to ensuring people across the country benefit.”
“The joy and creative collaboration that Higher Order Thinking Schools fosters continues to raise the bar for student engagement and educational practice throughout Connecticut,” said Christopher Eaves, Director of HOT Schools. “With the NEA’s assistance we happily continue this important work. Every student is our most important teacher. Every teacher is our most important student. Every Teaching Artist offers a way.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the NEA’s continued support of HOT Schools,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of Arts for Learning CT. “This program has been a cornerstone of our commitment to integrating arts learning with traditional curriculum, helping students develop critical thinking skills, creativity, and a deep appreciation for the arts. The NEA grant will allow us to impact even more students across Connecticut by deepening and expanding our professional learning opportunities for teachers and Teaching Artists.”
About Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools:
The HOT Schools program is a comprehensive initiative integrating arts learning into the core curriculum to improve school and student outcomes. It’s goals are to improve student engagement, enrich school culture, and expand teacher practice, and is built on the belief that arts learning promotes higher-order thinking and develops skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. HOT Schools partner schools are characterized by their focus on Social and Emotional Learning, Culturally Responsive Teaching practice, and school culture, fostering an environment where every student is encouraged to engage actively in their learning. The program has been recognized nationally for its innovative approach to education and its success in enhancing student achievement.
For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.