Letter to Project IMAGINE - King Applauds Nearly $2 Million Department of Education Grant for Arts Integration in Portland Public Schools

Letter

Dear Friends,

Congratulations on receiving this Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination grant award from the U.S. Department of Education. The collaboration between Side x Side and the University of Southern Maine has yielded encouraging results, and this exciting federal investment will allow you to expand on your combined efforts.

The world is changing around us, and it is important to think about how we can restructure our fundamental approach to education. What worked forty years ago isn't necessarily going to work today. It is imperative that we equip our students with the skills necessary to compete in the 21st century, and Project IMAGINE recognizes that critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration are at the top of the list.

The arts impower our students, encourage them to think critically and creatively, and serve as a platform to foster teamwork and cooperation. Integrating the arts with core subjects such as math, social studies, language arts and science is an innovative step in the mission to reimagine our approach to education. I applaud the goals of Project IMAGINE and will be following your work closely.

Again, congratulations and keep up the good work.

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