[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 182 (Tuesday, December 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IMPACT OF THE ARTS ON STUDENTS AT SAVOY ELEMENTARY

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 15, 2015

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call attention to the remarkable 
impact of art on the educational performance of the students at Savoy 
Elementary, a public school in my district.
  Savoy Elementary Anacostia, located here in the nation's capital, is 
one of eight pilot schools of Turnaround Arts, a signature program of 
the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Turnaround 
Arts has had clear, life-changing impacts on the students of Savoy--
attendance is up, discipline referrals are down, and the school has 
made double-digit gains in math and reading scores.
  The Savoy Players are a performing group at Savoy Elementary. Led by 
Carol Foster, a legendary arts leader in the national capital region, 
this group has been hugely successful. To be part of this group, 
students must exhibit maturity, grit, excellent attendance, and good 
grades. The professionalism, spirit, and magnetism of this group has 
catapulted them into the limelight.
  In addition to countless performances for their school community, 
they have had four performances at the White House, performed with 
Brian McKnight at the Warner Theater, and brought down the house at the 
Kennedy Center. But, most importantly, singing, dancing and performing 
has brought them the joy, meaning, and purpose that every child should 
experience.
  Mr. Speaker, in this holiday season, I ask my colleagues to join me 
in celebrating the clear benefit exposure to the arts has made for the 
children of Savoy Elementary, and hope that the new education 
legislation will bring similar opportunities to kids across the 
country.

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