Funding for Schools' Arts Programs Ending?

This article talks about the negative effects of defunding the arts. Prior to 2009 nationwide, around 87% of schools offered the arts. After budget cuts, some schools saw a reduction of about 3% in arts being offered. Some people blamed it on NCLB (No Child Left Behind) where the focus was geared towards the core subjects, leaving out the arts. Studies have shown that students who participated in the arts did well on standardized testing and there was a decrease in behavior issues.