Senate Concurrent Resolution 565

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI ALLIANCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION UPON ITS RECEIPT OF THE 2003 GOVERNOR'S EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS AWARD IN THE CATEGORY OF ARTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education is the recipient of the 2003 Governor's Excellence in the Arts Award in the category of Arts Education and Advocacy; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education is a statewide coalition of citizens who believe that all children are entitled to comprehensive, sequential programs of education in the visual, performing and literary arts in the public schools, K-12. The mission of the Alliance is to advocate high-quality arts education for all students; and

WHEREAS, incorporated in 1979, the Alliance spent its early years forging productive partnerships, promoting legislative attention to funding for arts education, as well as surveying the state of arts education in Mississippi. Accomplishments resulting from these early efforts include: collaborating with the Mississippi Arts Commission to reinstate a Mississippi Department of Education position for arts education; collaborating with the commission to establish an arts credit requirement for high school graduation and collaborating with the Mississippi Department of Education to implement a requirement to include the arts in the general education of K-8 students; and

WHEREAS, in recent years, the Alliance has implemented professional development opportunities in the arts disciplines for K-12 arts educators and education generalists. The Alliance has established an annual higher education conference to strengthen the connection between teacher education and K-12 programs, and it has celebrated arts education achievement at its Arts Education Awards Gala; and

WHEREAS, a member of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, the Alliance is recognized as a leader among the state alliances at the national level. Last summer the Alliance was invited to make a presentation on Capitol Hill. Senator Thad Cochran and other legislative representatives attended this presentation; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the unique contributions of the members of this organization which focuses our attention on matters of the spirit, and brings honor to its community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education upon its receipt of the 2003 Governor's Excellence in the Arts Award in the category of Arts Education and Advocacy, and extend to its membership the best wishes of the Legislature for success in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the President of the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education at induction ceremonies on February 28, 2003, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.