HSA’s OLA programming is aligned with the New York State public school art education plan and includes teacher training opportunities and performance offerings. HSA recognizes that an important aspect of education reform is the identification of methodologies that build bridges connecting disciplines. Because the arts focus on the creative process, they offer unique possibilities for encouraging collaboration among teachers. Interdisciplinary teaching and learning are based upon a philosophy of education that emphasizes the exploration and discovery of analogies, relationships and metaphors. HSA’s approach requires students and teachers to apply the process of inquiry and integrate specific disciplinary skills and knowledge into a broader context. Innovative interdisciplinary teaching begins with questions, unites teachers and students as learners and investigators, and makes innovative use of community resources.

Goals and Accomplishments

The Harlem School of the Arts' OLA initiative enriches the public school curriculum, demonstrates new methods of learning, enhances literacy skills and applies them to classroom learning, fosters self-discipline and personal responsibility, builds self-esteem, motivates the student’s quest for knowledge, demonstrates the intrinsic value of the arts in everyday life and identifies and develops talent.

Interdisciplinary connections are embedded in the OLA program. Literacy is an important component for all of HSA’s faculty. At its most basic, this is demonstrated when students learn the vocabulary of our four arts disciplines. At its most complex, this is evident when children have written and performed an original play. Mathematics, history and science are also integrated into the four strands through counting, mixing, measuring, estimating and classifying.

The Harlem School of the Arts is recognized for its unique arts education programming. As a result, HSA has been invited by the New York City Department of Education and individual schools to establish after-school programs in a number of public schools. The OLA program continues to expand and HSA continues to assess and update our practice and methodologies for the benefit of our students and faculty.