On this episode of the Unlearned & Unlimited Podcast, hosts Dr. Sito Narcisse and Tatiana Echevarria sit down with Dr. Mark King, Ed.D. — Chief Education Officer at Arts for Learning Maryland — to unpack one of the most urgent conversations in American education:

👉 Why arts education is disappearing… and why we desperately need it back.

Dr. King breaks down the realities facing schools today: declining student engagement, rising behavioral challenges, inequitable access to resources, and the widening gap between what kids need and what schools provide. Through his decades of experience in K–12 leadership, he shares powerful insights on how arts education can reshape student outcomes and school culture.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why arts are the first programs cut during budget shortfalls

How arts engagement boosts attendance, confidence, and academic performance

The deep equity gaps in access to arts education

How arts integration helps students demonstrate mastery in multiple ways

Why technology is pushing creativity — and teaching — into new frontiers

How students under 12 are driving innovation in arts and learning

Why teacher preparation must evolve to match classroom realities

How artists + teachers create powerful, transformational learning experiences

Why arts education reduces disciplinary incidents

How communities can advocate for and sustain arts funding

This conversation reveals a powerful truth:

If we want students to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially, arts education must be at the center — not the margins — of K–12 schooling.

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