Partners in Education

The Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is designed to assist arts organizations throughout the nation to develop or expand educational partnerships with their local school systems. The primary purpose of these partnerships is to provide professional learning in the arts for teachers. In 1992, this program was awarded the Association of Performing Arts Presenters' Dawson Award, which recognizes innovative and successful projects.

The Partners in Education program is based on the belief that teachers' professional learning is an essential component of any effort designed to increase the artistic literacy of young people. The Kennedy Center's extensive experience with its local professional learning program, established in 1976, provides the basis for this national program.

The Kennedy Center's approach to professional learning

The Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is designed to assist arts organizations throughout the nation to develop or expand educational partnerships with their local school systems. The primary purpose of these partnerships is to provide professional learning in the arts for teachers. In 1992, this program was awarded the Association of Performing Arts Presenters' Dawson Award, which recognizes innovative and successful projects.

The Partners in Education program is based on the belief that teachers' professional learning is an essential component of any effort designed to increase the artistic literacy of young people. The Kennedy Center's extensive experience with its local professional learning program, established in 1976, provides the basis for this national program.

Currently, almost 100 Partnership Teams in nearly 40 States and the District of Columbia participate in the program.

The program includes:

a four-day Institute that examines program models and planning strategies for establishing or expanding professional learning programs in the arts for all teachers;
follow-up consultation and ongoing communication to assist Partnership Teams in program and partnership development;
annual multi-day meetings and intensive seminars to assist Partnership Teams in program and partnership development; and
special access to Kennedy Center resources.

Program Components

The Institute

The entry point for new participants is the Institute. The purpose of the Institute is to foster new teams in the development of their partnerships and programs of professional learning in the arts for teachers. At the Institute, participants examine a variety of events for teachers developed at the Kennedy Center. Workshops focus on either teaching about the arts or teaching other subject areas through the arts. Teams participate in workshops alongside Washington, D.C. metropolitan area teachers and study how the workshops are designed, implemented, and evaluated.

During the Institute, each team develops a written plan that specifies how the partners will work together to establish or expand professional learning programs in the arts for teachers in their communities. Teams receive a detailed planning guide to assist them in the development of their program. Participants also attend performances at the Kennedy Center, meet with guest artists, and hear from leaders in the field of arts education.

Support and Consultation

Education Division staff provides on-going consultation to teams that have completed the Institute. Consultation may be by phone, e-mail, or site visit. In addition, teams regularly receive a newsletter outlining current information on national legislation, research, and other information and publications on the arts and education.

Annual Meetings

Teams that initiate or expand programs for teachers as a result of their work at the Institute are invited to continue their association with the Kennedy Center through Annual Meetings of partnership members. Scheduled in February, these meetings allow Team Members to receive additional training related to program and partnership development, and to recast the terms of their written partnership agreement. Annual Meetings also provide the opportunity for teams to learn from each other's experiences, renewing professional associations with other Partnership Team members and Kennedy Center staff.

How to Join Partners in Education

Arts organizations interested in the program must first apply with their school system partner to participate in the Institute. Up to 10 two-person teams, consisting of one representative from the arts organization and one from the school system, are selected for participation in the Institute. Participants are selected from urban, suburban, and rural regions.

The application will help identify arts organizations that demonstrate an interest, ability, and commitment to initiate or expand professional learning opportunities for teachers in collaboration with their local school system. While the Partners in Education program accommodates organizations with varying levels of experience providing professional learning for teachers, the Institute is designed as entry-level training to assist those with little or no experience in conducting professional learning for teachers.

The Institute is the beginning of an initial two-year commitment to the program that includes attendance at one Institute and two Annual Meetings with partial travel assistance provided by the Kennedy Center. Full attendance at these three meetings is mandatory for accepted Partnership Teams.

Teams that have completed the first two years of participation and wish to remain in the network of arts organizations and schools are welcome to continue the program at their own expense. More information can be found in the Guidelines for Participation.

Check back in the summer of 2019 for the next round of applications.

While Partners in Education is not a funding program, some financial assistance is available to help members travel to meetings. Read more about associated costs related to participation in the Partners in Education program.

To receive a program brochure or a Microsoft Word file version of the application, contact:

Partners in Education
Education Division - Kennedy Center
(202) 416-8843

Financial Information

There are two phases of participation in the Partners in Education program, and the financial responsibilities for Partnership Teams change as they move from one phase to the next. Throughout a team's participation, the costs involved in the programming of events in the team's home community are the responsibility of that team. However, partial reimbursement of workshop leader fees for Kennedy Center workshops and courses are available on a limited basis.

Phase I

The initial commitment of team’s participation consists of the first 22 months of participation in the Partners in Education program, from the time a team attends the Institute through the team's second Annual Meeting. After this time, a Partnership Team may choose to move on to Phase II.

The Kennedy Center provides:

round-trip airfare to the Institute and the first two Annual Meetings
all meals at the Institute
the majority of meals at Annual Meetings
partial reimbursement available for Kennedy Center touring workshops and courses
materials and resources
access to other Kennedy Center programs/services/staff
monthly e-newsletters
technical assistance by phone and email

The Partnership Team provides:

registration fee of approximately $250 per person for the Institute
registration fee of approximately $300 per person for each Annual Meeting
hotel expenses for the Institute and both Annual Meetings (average in recent years has been $180 per night)

During Phase I, attendance at the Annual Meetings by Team Members is required.

Phase II

The Kennedy Center provides:

the majority of meals at Annual Meetings
partial reimbursement for travel expenses, as available, to Annual Meetings
partial reimbursement available for Kennedy Center touring workshops
materials and resources
access to other Kennedy Center programs/services/staff
monthly e-newsletters
technical assistance by phone and email

The Partnership Team provides:

registration fee of approximately $300 per person for each Annual Meeting
hotel expenses for Annual Meetings (average in recent years has been $180 per night)
travel expenses for Annual Meetings (partial travel assistance available)
membership dues of $250 per team per year

Once a team enters Phase II, Team Members must attend three out of every five Annual Meetings.

Partnership Sites

For More Information

Review the Program Policies & Participation Guidelines for more information about Partners in Education.

Major Sponsor of National Community Partnerships

Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts, and the U.S. Department of Education.

The content of this program may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Kennedy Center Education

Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; Annenberg Foundation; the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Bank of America; Bender Foundation, Inc.; Carter and Melissa Cafritz Trust; Carnegie Corporation of New York; DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Estée Lauder; Flocabulary; Harman Family Foundation; The Hearst Foundations; the Herb Alpert Foundation; the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The King-White Family Foundation and Dr. J. Douglas White; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation;

Music Theatre International; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; the National Endowment for the Arts; Newman’s Own Foundation; Nordstrom; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Prince Charitable Trusts; Soundtrap; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; and Volkswagen Group of America. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

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