September 9, 2014

Last night, Nick attended a celebration for The Right Brain Initiative. 

A program of the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), Right Brain engages young minds by integrating art in school curriculums.  Launched in January of 2009, the program has grown to reach 20,000 students this year, at 59 K-8 schools in the greater Portland area.

New data - from the national arts research firm WolfBrown, in partnership with Portland State University’s Center for Student Success - demonstrates that students greatly benefit from the program. 

Students' math and reading scores increase at least 2.5 times more than the average annual rate of increase!  

Schools that engaged most with Right Brain programs saw students averaging 6 points higher in reading scores and 9 points higher in math scores than before working with the program.  English Language Learners’ scores increased the most – 10 times more after Right Brain!

Many thanks to all of the public and private funders of the Right Brain Initiative, including the City of Portland, PGE Foundation, and the Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust.   

Learn all about RACC’s educational programs on their website.

Oregon Arts Group Claims Achievement Boost

Rob Manning in OPB 

Photo courtesy of Frank Hunt and RACC.