Education in the arts and humanities has always been important to the United States' arts and culture and to its competitiveness in a global economy. Providing all students with a complete education in the arts and humanities can help them cope with, and master, the fast-paced technological advances, forces of globalization, and major demographic and societal shifts that characterize today's world. In the United States and elsewhere, growth of arts, cultural, and intellectual property sectors is outpacing that of the economy as a whole. Other nations are forging education and workforce policies based on this fact. Research has provided evidence that K-12 arts education can help the United States achieve the following national objectives: (1) achieve school standards; (2) reach all learners; and (3) help youth develop positively. Education policy and action in general--and arts education policy and programs in particular--require the commitment and engagement of a multiplicity of stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels. The United States needs a comprehensive strategy linking education--including education in the arts and humanities--with workforce development as the principal cornerstone for strengthening the country's social capital and developing the skills needed for U.S. workers to remain competitive in the 21st century. (Forty-six endnotes are included. The bibliography lists 22 references.) (MN)