The President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities' successful Turnaround Arts initiative, which aims to turn around low-performing schools, narrow the achievement gap and increase student engagement through the arts, will expand next school year to four elementary schools in District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). 

"Turnaround Arts has proven a tremendous success in its pilot program in D.C., and we're excited to see the program expand to reach more students," DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson said. "We know that when arts are integrated into school curriculum, our students reap the benefits, and I look forward to the great achievements that will continue to come as part of this expanded initiative." 

Schools selected for the Turnaround Arts D.C. program are as follows: Bunker Hill Elementary School (currently named Brookland EC @ Bunker Hill), Moten Elementary School, Noyes Education Campus (which will be named Noyes Elementary School), and Turner Elementary School. 

Through the Turnaround Arts initiative, these four schools will receive arts education training and resources, such as arts supplies, music instruments and funding for partnerships with community arts education and cultural organizations, to address their individual needs. 

As part of the program, high-profile artists "adopt" Turnaround Arts schools and work with students, schools and communities to highlight their success. The arts celebrities chosen for DCPS schools are Yo-Yo Ma (Noyes and Bunker Hill), Damian Woetzel (Noyes and Bunker Hill), Macy Gray (Turner) and Elizabeth Banks (Moten). 

"I am delighted to be continuing as a Turnaround Artist and working with Damian Woetzel again," said Grammy Award-winning cellist, recording artist and 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Yo-Yo Ma, who has been working with DCPS schools through Turnaround Arts since its pilot at Savoy Elementary School. "Having seen the undoubted social and artistic impact of other Turnaround Arts schools, it is a privilege to help bring it to four more schools in D.C. I'm looking forward to making art and music with the students!" 

Nationally, Turnaround Arts now reaches more than 22,000 students in 49 high-need schools in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Funding over the next three years is through a public-private partnership with more than $5 million from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment of the Arts, the Ford Foundation and other private foundations and companies. 

"Having access to music and art, expressing myself and listening to Billie Holiday got me through—I don't think I could been successful at school without it," said singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and actress Macy Gray. "I can't wait to work with D.C. students as they get the opportunity to explore learning through Turnaround Arts." 

The program leverages about $10 million in additional local funding over the same period. The money will be used to hire new arts and music teachers; bring teaching artists, art supplies and music instruments into schools; and support arts integration with other core subjects such as reading, math and science. 

"I grew up a latchkey kid. After-school art programs were a saving grace for me, especially when I discovered school musicals," said actress, producer and director Elizabeth Banks. "I developed a passion for performing and the skill set for collaborating that are the foundation of all the work I do today as a professional actress. I'm excited to share that spark with students here in D.C." 

In May 2012, the President's Committee, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Domestic Policy Council, launched Turnaround Arts as a pilot program in eight "turnaround schools" across the country—public schools in the lowest-achieving five percent of their state that were receiving School Improvement Grants through the U.S. Department of Education. 

Over the last three years, Turnaround Arts has brought intensive arts education resources and expertise into 35 schools – including Savoy Elementary School – and worked with school leadership to incorporate the arts as part of their reform strategy. 

"I'm so happy to be continuing as a Turnaround Artist with Yo-Yo Ma," said Damian Woetzel, principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. "Our past work has shown me how important the arts can be in a well-rounded education, making learning memorable and exciting, and sparking children's creative power. I'm looking forward to continuing that work in our nation's capital and to adding Macy Gray and Elizabeth Banks to our amazing team of Turnaround Artists." 

Participating schools improved academic performance, increased student and parent engagement, and improved culture and climate over the three years of the program, according to research evaluation results. On average, Turnaround Arts schools experienced 23 percent increase in math proficiency and a 13 percent increase in reading proficiency over three years, as well as showing reductions of up to 86 percent in student disciplinary issues and sharply increased attendance. 

National partners in Turnaround Arts include the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, the Herb Alpert Foundation, the Rosenthal Family Foundation, the Keith Haring Foundation, the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Crayola LLC, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, and Music Theatre International. New partners to the program include AOL, Little Kids Rock and JCPenney. The program is administered in partnership with Americans for the Arts. 

Participating schools were competitively selected by program partners according to national guidelines. Selection criteria included demonstrated need and opportunity, strong school leadership with district support, and a commitment to arts education. Turnaround Arts schools represent elementary and middle schools from across the country and encompass a diversity of student demographics in urban and rural settings. 

For more information about Turnaround Arts, visit the Turnaround Arts website. 

Artist Biographies

Yo-Yo Ma 

Yo Yo Ma, a cellist and 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, has recorded more than 75 albums, won 16 Grammy Awards, and serves as the Artistic Director of the Silk Road Project, an organization he founded to promote the study of cultural, artistic, and intellectual traditions along the ancient Silk Road trade routes. With the Silk Road Project, he also helped create Silk Road Connect, a multidisciplinary educational initiative working with underserved middle schools to inspire passion-driven learning through the arts. Mr. Ma also serves as the Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Institute for Learning, Access, and Training and has received numerous awards, including the 2001 National Medal of Arts, the 2006 Sonning Prize, and the 2008 World Economic Forum's Crystal Award. In addition, Mr. Ma was a 2011 Kennedy Center Honoree. 

Damian Woetzel 

Damian Woetzel has taken on multiple roles in arts leadership since retiring in 2008 from a 20-year career as Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet. He is the director of the Aspen Institute Arts Program, the artistic director of the Vail International Dance Festival, and the founding director of the Jerome Robbins Foundation's New Essential Works (NEW) Program. Mr. Woetzel also works with Yo-Yo Ma and his Silk Road Connect Program in New York City Public Schools, and he has served on the Harvard Task Force on the Arts and the Artists Committee of the Kennedy Center Honors.

Macy Gray 

Macy Gray, an R&B and soul singer, is also a songwriter, musician, record producer, and actress. With a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday, Gray has released six studio albums and received five Grammy Award nominations, winning one in in 2001 for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her international hit single "I Try," taken from her multi-platinum debut album On How Life Is. This will be her first year serving as a Turnaround Artist.

Elizabeth Banks 

Elizabeth Banks, an actress, producer and director, has become one of Hollywood's most sought after and versatile actresses, easily navigating between stage and screen, comedy and drama. She is widely known for her role as 'Effie Trinket' in the international hit film series "The Hunger Games." In addition to acting, she is set to make her feature directorial debut with "Pitch Perfect 2," the sequel to "Pitch Perfect," about a women's college a cappella group where she will reprise her role as commentator 'Gail.' She is also producing the film along with her husband, Max Handelman, through their company, Brownstone Productions. 

About the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities 

Created in 1982 under President Reagan, the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) is an advisory committee to the White House on cultural issues. The PCAH works directly with the three primary cultural agencies—National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services—as well as other federal partners and the private sector, to address policy questions in the arts and humanities, to initiate and support key programs in those disciplines and to recognize excellence in the field. Its core areas of focus are education, cultural exchange, and creative economy. Under the leadership of the First Lady and Honorary Chairman, and through the efforts of its federal and private members, the President's Committee has compiled an impressive legacy over its tenure, conducting major research and policy analysis, and catalyzing important federal cultural programs, both domestic and international. For more information, please visit http://www.pcah.gov/.