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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. ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵÃâ·Ñ°æapp'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.

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.

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:

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.

²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵÃâ·Ñ°æapp 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

²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵÃâ·Ñ°æapp 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.

A

• Alabama 1996
• Alabama 2012
• Alaska 1993
• Alaska 2007
• Arizona 1995
• Arizona 2001
• Arkansas 1991
• Arkansas/Texas 2010

C

• California 1999
• California 2001
• California 2003
• California 2005
• California 2007
• California 2010
• California (Fresno) 2014
• California 2016
  • .
• Colorado 2007
• Colorado (Colorado Springs Central) 2018
• Connecticut 2014

D

• District of Columbia/Virginia 1997

F

• Florida 1993
• Florida 1997
• Florida 2005
• Florida 2012
• Florida (Naples) 2016
• Florida (Pensacola) 2016
• Florida 2018

G

• Georgia 2001

H

• Hawai'i 1995
• Hawai'i 2007

I

• Illinois/Iowa 1992
• Illinois 2010
• Illinois 2012
• Indiana 2005
• Indiana 2012
• Iowa 2003
• Iowa 2010

K

• Kansas/Missouri 2014
• Kentucky 1999
• Kentucky 2014

L

• Louisiana 1993
• Louisiana (Baton Rouge) 2005
• Louisiana (New Orleans) 2005

M

• Massachusetts 2018
• Michigan 1997
• Michigan 2007
• Michigan 2016
• Minnesota 1991
• Minnesota 2018
• Mississippi 2007
• Mississippi 2012
• Missouri (St. Louis) 2003

N

• Nebraska 2001
• Nevada 2001
• Nevada 2012
• New Jersey 2012
• New Jersey 2014
• New Mexico 1996
• New Mexico 2012
• New York (Westchester) 1996
• New York 2016
• North Carolina 1993
• North Carolina 2016
• North Carolina 2018

O

• Ohio 1996
• Ohio 2010
• Ohio 2016
• Oklahoma 1995
• Oklahoma 2005
• Oregon 2010

S

• South Carolina 1992
• South Carolina 1996
• South Carolina 2007

T

• Tennessee 2003
• Tennessee 2014
• Tennessee 2018
• Texas 2003
• Texas 2014
• Texas 2016

V

• Vermont 1992
• Virginia 1997

W

• Washington 1992
• Wisconsin 1993
• Wyoming 1991

Kennedy Center Education

The Vice President of Education is generously endowed by the

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 The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;

Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. 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.