Governor’s Award of Distinction

Meridian Public School District with MSU Meridian Campus and Riley Center. District-wide arts integration and education, partnering with Any Given Child.

The city of Meridian was selected in August of 2016 by the Kennedy Center for a multi-year, PreK-8th grade arts integration national partnership called Any Given Child (AGC). This collaboration is between the MS State University/Meridian Campus and Riley Center, members of the Meridian community, local educators, the city of Meridian and the Kennedy Center.

The AGC grant application was written and developed by the Education Director at the MSU Riley Center who also secured matching funding from local foundations for implementation. The Kennedy Center provided consultants to facilitate strategic planning for arts education in the Meridian Public School District (MPSD). The goal of the Kennedy Center National Partnership is to provide access and equity in the arts for all PreK-8th grade students across many different art forms.

The initial goals of Any Given Child Meridian were to increase student achievement through the arts and arts integration. At that time national research indicated that arts integration could improve student achievement, motivation and attendance. The Meridian Public School District has evidence that indicates the arts and arts integration CAN make a difference in achievement, attendance and motivation as well as result in higher professional satisfaction for educators.