News
News items are listed chronologically. To read a news item, click on the link to access the information.
- U.S. Secretary of Education Affirms Value of Arts Education (Posted September 2009)
- The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2008 Arts Results Released (Posted August 2009) Americans For The Arts: Arts Education System Change (Posted 3/09)
- SAT Scores and Studies in the Arts, 2008 Report (Posted 3/09)
- Surdna Grants for Arts Teachers - Deadline November 16 (Posted 7/08)
- Findings Reported from Dana Arts and Cognition Consortium (Posted 7/08)
- National Museum of Education (Posted 6/08)
- Schenectady City School District Board of Education Wins National Recognition for Outstanding Support for the Arts (Posted 6/08)
- A Report on Prek-12 Music Education (Posted 3/07)
U.S. Secretary of Education Affirms Value of Arts Education
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released a letter to school officials and community leaders across the nation reminding them of the important role of arts education in a student's life. This letter offers strong encouragement to education decision makers to find time and funds in the school day to offer a comprehensive, sequential and standards-based arts education.
The 2008 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in Art results played an essential part in reminding Duncan of the role that arts education plays in a well rounded education. http://www.aep-arts.org/NAEP.html 
Duncan reminded school and education leaders that under the ESEA, states and local school districts have the flexibility to support the arts through Federal Title I and II programs and U.S. Department of Education programs, including professional development of arts teachers as well as for strategic partnerships with cultural, arts and other nonprofit organizations. In addition, Duncan stated that local school districts can use funds under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the arts along with other district expenses.
Duncan also outlined the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics' (NCES) next steps for supporting the arts as part of a well-rounded curriculum. These efforts include the undertaking of a survey in the coming year to assess the condition of arts education in grades K-12 and identify where there are gaps to be filled. To read Arne Duncan’s letter go to http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/secletter/090826.html
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2008 Arts Results Released
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in the Arts was administered to a nationally representative sample of 8th grade students in the United States for the first time in more than a decade. It measured student knowledge and skills in music and visual arts with moderate levels of achievement reported and suggested students have about the same access to music and art as in 1997. The NAEP Arts Assessment results reveal a significant achievement gap in student performance in music and the visual arts according to economic status, racial and ethnic identification, gender, and school type and location.
The responding questions in the music portion of the assessment asked students to analyze and describe aspects of music they heard, critique instrumental and vocal performances, and demonstrate their knowledge of standard musical notation and music’s role in society. For the visual arts portion, responding questions asked students to analyze and describe works of art and design. Creating questions required students to create original works of art and design, including a self-portrait that was scored for identifying detail, compositional elements, and use of materials.
While the NAEP gives valuable information about what students know and are able to do in the arts, it also points to the need for more a complete national picture about the status and condition of arts education in our nation’s schools.
More information available at: http://nationsreportcard.gov and http://www.aep-arts.org
Americans For The Arts: Arts Education System Change
Americans for the Arts’ Arts Education System Change webinars are available for purchase. Webinars include “School Boards’ Role in Ensuring Arts Education for All” (April 1, 2009) presented by the Arizona Department of Education, “Arts Education and District Superintendents” (Oct. 7, 2009) presented by the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, and “Principals’ Professional Development for Arts Education” (Dec. 2, 2009) presented by Arts Ed Washington’s Principals Arts Leadership Institute. For more information, visit http://eo2.commpartners.com/users/afta/series.php?id=846
SAT Scores and Studies in the Arts, 2008 Report
The academic information below includes National and New York State SAT Reasoning Test™ mean scores with breakdown by years of Arts study and course work. This information shows a general pattern that correlates more years of study in the arts with higher SAT scores.
- Comparison of years of arts study to grade point average (GPA)
(912 KB) - Course Taking Patterns in The Arts (540 KB)
Surdna Grants for Arts Teachers - Deadline November 16
The Surdna Foundation invites arts teachers from specialized, public arts high schools to apply for funding for artistic development through its Arts Teachers Fellowship Program. Surdna provides grants of up to $5,000 to enable selected teachers to make art with professionals in their disciplines and stay current with new practices and resources. A complementary grant of $1,500 is awarded to each Fellow's school to support related post-Fellowship activities. To learn more, visit http://www.surdna.org/programs/programs_show.htm?doc_id=326426&attrib_id=12040.
Findings Reported from Dana Arts and Cognition Consortium
A three-year study to discover whether early training in the performing arts has a visible impact on cognition through detectable changes in brain processes has reported its results. The group of nine investigators have published findings that will allow further research and discussion of the preliminary, but promising impact of the arts on the brain. To read about their research, go to http://dana.org/news/publications/detail.aspx?id=11528
National Museum of Education
The National Museum of Education is sponsoring the National Gallery for America's Young ArtistsTM (www.nmoe.org ), an exciting new concept in a national youth art gallery (Kindergarten thru 12th grade). Students' artwork will be reviewed by a nationally prominent jury of artists and art teachers. Juried artwork will be posted online for potential sale to corporations, universities and private collectors. Ten talented students will have their artwork chosen to be hung with the Vatican Splendors exhibit in Cleveland, Ohio. For further information on this program please contact the National Museum of Education at artists@nmoe.org.
Schenectady City School District Board of Education Wins National Recognition for Outstanding Support for the Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced that the Schenectady City School District, Schenectady, New York has been chosen to receive the 20th annual Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN) and National School Boards Association (NSBA) Award. This district was singled out for their outstanding support of high-quality arts education. Schenectady City School District was nominated for this national award by the New York State Alliance for Arts Education (NYSAAE) , located in Albany, NY. For more information, visit www.schenectady.k12.ny.us/news/Inthenews/faprogram.dailygazette.040108.pdf.
A Report on Prek-12 Music Education
The New York State School Music Association's Classroom Music Committee has produced A Report on PreK-12 Music Education in New York State with a Special Focus on the Middle Level. The report provides an overview of the status of classroom music education with specific information on middle level music programs, NYSSMA benefits/services, and the effect the learning standards have had on music education programs in the State. The report can be accessed at http://www.nyssma.org/committees.cfm?subpage=111 .