The district Visual and Performing Arts Field Trip Program is offered in collaboration with the Arts Council of Hillsborough County and is recognized as one of the finest arts-in-education programs in the country. In 2005/2006 over 86,000 district students and teachers attended 249 theatre performances and documentary films. In addition, 12,000 students and teachers attended 14 exhibitions at 6 museums in the Museum and Visual Arts Field Trip Program. The 2006/2007 list includes performance descriptions with notation of the curriculum connections.

All companies have been screened by a selection committee and are evaluated for alignment and reinforcement of the Sunshine State Standards. The Arts Council hires individuals with theatre and education expertise who evaluate the programs during the year and provide feedback based on the benefits to students. Prior to the experience, study guides for each performance containing instructional concepts are provided to teachers to prepare students. The integration of visual and performing arts aesthetic enrichment programming into regular school curricula creates opportunities for high academic achievement for all our students. Research shows that students involved in the arts learn artistic modes of problem solving, resulting in strengthened critical thinking skills. Students learn to understand past and present human experiences, to adapt to and respect others’ ways of living, and to communicate their own thoughts and feelings in a variety of ways. The infusion of the arts into regular school curricula makes a positive impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proved to help level the learning field across socio-economic boundaries.

Goal 5 – The district will close the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind

These programs are sponsored through the Arts Council of Hillsborough County. Costs for transportation and admission are paid by parent/student. The St. Petersburg Times sponsors the printing of the Visual and Performing Arts Field Trip Selection which will be provided to teachers during preplanning. There is no additional cost to the district.