+92
Students who took four years of arts classes in high school scored an average of 92 points higher on their SATs than students who took only one half year or less.
The College Board
98%
98% of school administrators believe that theatre programs strengthen student’s critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and leadership skills.
EdTA-Utah State University Survey of Theatre Education Programs in U.S. High Schools
28%
Only 28% of public high schools in high poverty areas offer theatre instruction.
National Center for Education Statistics
“Theatre allows you to feel things with the heart. I love theatre because it has the power to tell important stories, to move an audience, to connect people, and to make change.”
Sophia Willard-Van Sistine, high school Thespian
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JumpStart Theatre
An essential component of a well-rounded education, theatre teaches critical 21st century life skills — collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.
The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) and its parent organization, the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), believe that every child in America deserves access to theatre in their school because theatre can directly and positively impact a student’s academic performance and career preparedness.
student Spotlight
“The impact of JumpStart Theatre on our students is an inspiration.”Meet Za'Khyra
Theatre is not a hobby for the privileged few.
Middle school students perform during a 2016 JumpStart Theatre production at Dater High School in Cincinnati, OH.
Many at-risk students, who stand to benefit the most from theatre education, have little to no access to theatre education. While there are nearly 26,000 K-12 school-based theatre programs throughout the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Education:
donor Spotlight
“We feel that it is important young teachers have the best possible university preparation. By giving three future theatre educator scholarships annually, we hope to impact not only future theatre teachers but future theatre students, keeping our art alive and vital.”Support Theatre Today
Standing Stronger: Lessons from the 2020-21 School Year (4/12/2021) - By Julie Cohen Theobald School theatre programs streamed hundreds of performances this year, including this Clue performance highlighted at ETF’s… “I think there's a perception that the arts are secondary to core subjects like reading and math. But what the research would suggest is that by participating in theatre, students learn creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.”
— Julie Cohen Theobald, president, Educational Theatre Foundation
Learn About the Thespian Relief Fund
