Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani welcomed New York City Schools Chancellor Harold O. Levy and students from PS 144, PS 20 and PS 7 -- representing some of the best schools in arts education -- to Gracie Mansion this morning to celebrate the start of the 2001-2002 school year. The Mayor was also joined at the annual "Back to School" breakfast by Center of Arts Education (CAE) Chair Laurie Tisch Sussman, CAE Executive Director Hollis Headrick, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Education and Cultural Affairs Anthony P. Coles, Board of Education President Ninfa Segarra, Board of Education member and Youth and Community Development Commissioner Jerry Camarata, and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Schuyler Chapin.

"At the start of each school year, we gather here to celebrate student achievement and recommit ourselves to making the most of education," Mayor Giuliani said. "Strong attendance is key to achievement, because the more time you're in class, the more you can learn.

"Today we are also recognizing the importance of arts education. Study after study has shown that instruction in the arts fosters creativity, discipline, analytical thinking, and many other positive traits that we seek to instill in our students. Since its inception four years ago, Project ARTS has restored arts education to all of our City's elementary and middle schools and established a major sequence of arts studies in the high schools. I want to commend the Center for Arts Education and the city's vast range of cultural institutions for their commitment to sustaining and improving arts education in all of our City's schools," the Mayor continued.

In 1997, the Mayor announced that in partnership with the Board of Education, New York City would continue to raise standards and performance in the school system through Project ARTS -- a program that recognizes the importance of the arts for a balanced curriculum, and as a tool for creative thinking and inspiration. Since the 1999-2000 school year, the program has been funded annually at $75 million. Through Project ARTS, 1,186 music, visual and performing arts teachers have been hired since the program began. Project ARTS now reaches all New York City public schools.

The 2001-2002 school year opens citywide for high school students on Wednesday, September 5, 2001 and for elementary school students the following day.

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