Arts instruction in school has taken a back seat to standardized tests, STEM programs, and a focus on college and career readiness. Yet there is a consistently vocal public lament over the loss of the arts in school. Many people know intuitively that this is devastating to our children and to our nation.

Art Basel is the world's premier platform for Modern and contemporary art. With three annual art shows in Basel, Switzerland; Hong Kong; and Miami, Florida, Art Basel brings together artists of all types. I will join Dr. Natalie Hopkinson of the Interactivity Foundation as she hosts public discussions of her project, The Future of the Arts & Society, at Art Basel in Miami next month. On today's episode of Know-It-All, Dr. Hopkinson and I will talk about why art is still so important and how it relates to equity in education.

Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other entities to create education equity plans and promote equity in education in compliance with federal civil rights laws.