The usual case for the role of the arts in education has been constructed around the idea that the arts are an essential dimension of culture, and a rich education must attend to them. Needless to say, the success of this argument has been limited. The arts has ebbed and flowed in American education, but
they have consistently remained on its margins. 

Putting the Arts in the Picture: Reframing Education in the 21st Century
The Center’s book on arts education, makes a new argument for moving the arts,
usually located on the margins of public education, to its center. By examining the role
of the arts in education, investigating the cognitive benefits of learning in the arts, and suggesting practical solutions for improving education and learning, Putting the Arts in the Picture seeks to demonstrate that arts education is an effective strategy for improving education and learning opportunities for children and young people. In cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, and Boston, arts integrated schools are defying educational odds and expectations. Their stories, documented in this volume, show that arts integration can profoundly influence student achievement, and that it is a strategy within the reach of
most schools, districts, and communities.