WORD - SOUND - ART - DEED

 Creative/arts education matters: 

• Nearly 45% of business executives say American workers lack the "deeper learning" skills needed for the modern workforce — creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking, all skills built through arts education. 
• Students in arts-rich programs consistently score higher on tests of creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking than peers without that access. 

AI literacy for the next generation (used responsibly): 

• 76% of global education leaders now view AI literacy as an essential part of a basic education for every student. 
• 66% of employers say they wouldn't hire someone without basic AI literacy skills. 

Louisiana context (why this work matters here specifically): 

• Louisiana ranked 50th out of 50 states in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best States rankings — the only state to land in the bottom 10 across every single category measured, including education (46th) and economy (49th). 
• Louisiana ranks 3rd-worst in the nation for educational attainment. 

(For Full Report and Additional Stats see our Documents Page for download)

Sources: Education Commission of the States; Royal College of Art; EdWeek/Microsoft 2025 AI in Education Report; DemandSage AI in Education Statistics 2026; U.S. News & World Report Best States 2026; WalletHub At-Risk Youth Study