The Student Enrichment in the Arts (SEAS) program was formed from a collaboration between
Broward County Public Schools and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in March 1990.
According to the partnership, the school system has a forty-year rent-free lease, which includes
exclusive use of the Broward Center Amaturo Theater during the day throughout the school
year. The SEAS program offers a different style of learning by integrating theatrical performances,
such as music, dance and drama into the students’ education. Since inception of the program,
nearly 2 million students have attended a SEAS program.
The Broward County Public School system and the Broward Center for the Performing
Arts continue to be on the cutting edge of education. To complement SEAS, the Reading
Residency program was designed to improve reading and verbal understanding for economically
disadvantaged students. All Title I second and fourth grade students read either
Stone Soup (grade 2) or
Charlotte’s Web (grade 4) and attend a performance of the same at the Broward
Center. The reading residency focuses on story sequencing, plot development and inferences.
Study guides aligned with these three areas are designed to make connections for students
between the performance and the book. Last school year over 20,000 Title I students
participated in the Reading Residency programs.
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The SEAS program is recognized as the national model for infusing the arts in education. The SEAS program is the recipient of the Magna Award, a national educational award presented
by the National School Boards Association and the American School Board Journal. The Magna
Award recognizes school boards that are putting student achievement and community engagement
at the center of their work. The SEAS program is also a recipient of the prestigious Kennedy
Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and National School Board Association Award.
The Broward County Public School system is further committed to ensure that all students
have the opportunity to become appreciators and producers of the arts by assisting students
in pursuing post-secondary and career opportunities in the arts. The Arts for the Future
Scholarship Fund is a community-wide initiative to promote artistic career opportunities
for graduating high school seniors. Over the past eight years, over $400,000 in scholarships
were awarded to students pursuing education in the arts.
This year’s season of SEAS shows are targeted to improve reading and literacy. They will
excite and encourage students to read, read and read. Favorite stories and classics will come
alive on stage. We kick off our season with the national tour of Sesame Street, which has
assisted students in reading, math and life skills for decades. We are pleased to bring such
high quality programs to our students.
This year’s season of shows covers a wide spectrum, including history and diversity all
connected to reading. Through SEAS, reading and literacy come alive.
Sincerely,
James F. Notter
Superintendent of Schools
