Arts leaders who fear that testing is squeezing out creative learning may find some hope in an after-school program in the Hill–and the reaction of one 4th-grader who refused to leave the classroom, the New Haven Independent reports. Elena Brennan was one of 11 students who stayed after-hours at the Roberto Clemente Leadership Academy last week to take part in an arts program run by a local not-for-profit called Arte, Inc. When her mom showed up 40 minutes early to pick her up, Elena refused to go–she was having too much fun penciling in the eyes on a self-portrait in the style of Chuck Close. The art session at the K-8 public school at 360 Columbus Ave. came on the heels of a discussion two weeks ago among 200 artists and arts convened at the Congregation Mishkan Israel. The group raised concerns that standardized tests [1] dominate more and more classroom time and drain arts funding in the era of school reform, hurting kids’ chances to learn about the arts and grow into well-rounded adults…