Dear Albany City School District Board of Education,

We are writing to advocate for the establishment of district-sponsored theater programs at the middle school level. 

Students at the Albany School of Humanities (ASH) benefit from a wonderful theater program run by dedicated district teachers. These students thrive, as access to theater programs improves literacy and communication skills, boosts self-confidence and self-esteem, develops empathy and emotional intelligence, improves teamwork and collaboration, and provides an outlet for creative expression and imagination. As ASH students transition to middle school, they find that no district-sponsored programs exist. Many of our elementary students don’t experience a theater program until they move on to high school. This gap in our arts education creates a significant disconnect for students who have developed a passion and talent for theater during their elementary years, and an inequitable disadvantage to all students. 

At present, the only available options for our middle schoolers are privately-run, tuition-based community theater programs. Despite the fact that many of these programs offer excellent opportunities to some of our students, relying on outside organizations presents several issues regarding equity and accessibility. Community programs often require substantial tuition or fees. Even when these programs claim that cost is not a barrier, the associated expenses and the process of seeking financial aid still excludes a subset of our student population. The programs are not necessarily held at students' home schools, and often are held at times that are incompatible with working parents’ schedules. The inclusion of non-district children also makes these productions more competitive, and less community-focused than district or school-hosted plays. 

Our goal should be to create an equitable, robust, high-quality, and school-based theater pipeline that spans from elementary through high school. Thus, we are asking you to consider extending in-school theater options across the district and specifically in the middle schools, to ensure that all students have access to the cognitive and social benefits of theater and the performing arts before arriving at the high school program. By sponsoring theater programs at the middle school level, we can ensure that theater remains equitable and accessible to all students within our district, regardless of their financial situation.

We hope you will consider this request to invest in our students' growth and ensure a consistent education for all.

Sincerely,

ASH PTA