Mississippi Whole Schools
Mississippi Whole Schools supports Mississippi K–12 schools with arts integration, professional learning, and technical assistance to strengthen daily teaching and comprehensive arts education.
Funder: Mississippi Arts Commission
Due Dates: March 1, 2027 (Application draft, first week of March) | April 1, 2027 (Final application)
Funding Amounts: Grant support, professional development, and technical assistance; cash match for agreed services up to $5,000
Summary: Supports Mississippi K–12 schools in integrating the arts into daily instruction while strengthening comprehensive arts education.
Key Information: Schools must complete one year of Arts in the Classroom before applying to Whole Schools.
Description
Mississippi Whole Schools (MWS), administered by the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC), uses research-based arts integration to strengthen teaching and learning across disciplines. Part of MAC’s statewide arts education initiative established in 1991, it combines grant support, professional development, and technical assistance. The program promotes arts integration in daily classroom instruction alongside sequential, comprehensive instruction in dance, theatre, visual arts, and music.
Professional learning serves teachers, administrators, parents, and teaching artists through summer institutes and retreats. Workshop content is co-created with the Mississippi Department of Education and uses the College and Career Readiness Standards and Arts Learning Standards. Participating schools receive support connecting arts experiences, teacher workshops, and instructional strategies to their academic goals and state standards.
