A More Artful Approach to STEAM: Bridging LA’s Learning Gap

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Students from low-income families are most affected by a lack of educational access and are often taught in schools where resources are scarce and conventional teaching methods dominate. This lack leads to limited experiences of a 'whole' education, or one that integrates arts and design, both crucial for fostering diverse cognitive abilities and preparing students for future challenges. Further exacerbating educational disparities are chronic absenteeism and summer and pandemic learning loss, culminating in further academic setbacks. One educator shared, “For one of my more outspoken and impulsive students, this [our program] is his happy place. He feels accepted. I feel like you [DR] provide that opportunity for the students to feel accepted until they are more willing to share when they might feel in the classroom. [The program] is so good at just bringing that out of people.”

Dramatic Results utilizes a transformative approach to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) designed to bridge the opportunity gap in education, particularly in Title I schools. Our teaching model fosters students' confidence, identity, agency, and a sense of belonging. This approach directly challenges educational inequities by addressing issues of power, privilege, and discrimination, creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. Our program blends arts and academics to make learning more accessible. This integration is especially impactful in developing "soft skills" such as self-management, relationship building, and resilience, which are crucial for students' overall well-being and future success. An example of our distinctive approach comes from our STEAM+ Theater program, where students create tableaus—a form of motionless scene work—to physically express story elements. This technique not only respects students' autonomy but also promotes their creative expression within a supportive community. A 30-year veteran teacher observed remarkable transformations in her students, noting increased individuality, creativity, and confidence—even among the most reserved. Our programs encourage artistic expression and ensure that students understand their emotions, develop empathy, and increase confidence in their learning.

Success is when more Los Angeles County students experience engaging and enriching STEAM learning environments. By using the arts to make science accessible to diverse learners, we enable students, especially those in under-resourced communities, to enhance their academic skills and confidence in learning. This effort leads to a generation of students equipped with the critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills necessary for a 21st-century workforce. With the support of LA2050, we will focus on intensifying the quality of our offerings to ensure that every program we conduct is as impactful as possible, fostering substantial improvements in both STEM and social-emotional learning. Long-term, Dramatic Results aims to influence educational practices and policies in Los Angeles County by demonstrating the transformative power of integrating arts into education to pave the way for a more inclusive and effective educational environment across the region.

Our primary objective is to narrow the opportunity gap by having 75% of our students show a meaningful size gain in one or more Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. This objective directly addresses the challenges faced by low-income students disproportionately affected by educational disparities. Our evaluation strategy relies on Hello Insight, a youth program evaluation tool that compares our data against national standards to assess our effectiveness in students improving SEL at rates comparable to high-quality programs nationwide. Recent Hello Insight reporting shows that our programs are performing on par or better than national benchmarks for successful SEL growth, especially in peer bonds, which includes a young person’s experience with an adult who helps them work with and develop relationships with peers.