Opinion: As students return in-person, here’s a reminder that arts and music are essential in education (San Diego Union Tribune)

Dalouge Smith is the chief executive officer of The Lewis Prize for Music, and lives in Coronado.

Last fall, Luna, Bruno, Cesar and Kate enrolled in college immediately out of high school. As Latinx youth who speak English as a second language, college was never a certainty for them. Their start was even more impressive in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when enrollment from low income and majority non-White high school students declined significantly more than enrollment at high-income or low-minority-enrollment schools.

Along with having engaged families, they shared the key experience of learning music. After handing them their first instruments 10 years ago, I have witnessed music’s role in helping them succeed.

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Posted in Latest News, Our Blog on August, 2021