FRSS Preview Report Released on Arts Education, U.S. Department of Education
An early glimpse at the long-awaited Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) results was released on May 2, 2011 in an initial “First Look” preview. This survey, conducted by the National Center on Education Statistics (NCES), in partnership with the Office of Innovation and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education, is the first collection of information in 10 years. Principals and teachers (including arts specialists as well as elementary classroom teachers) reported during the 2009-2010 school year on the conditions of K-12 arts education and the “First Look” report contains selected national-level findings on percentages of schools that offer instruction in four arts disciplines. The most substantial measures that will give some indication about the equitable distribution of arts education, such as poverty levels of schools and regions of the country will not be made available until the comprehensive report is released later this year. The "First Look" report is available online only.
The Nation’s Arts Report Card
The 2008 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in the Arts measured the ability of eighth-grade students to respond to works of art in music and to respond and create in the visual arts. Arts advocates hope future assessments in the arts will be more comprehensive in scope and depth and will be conducted more frequently. The U.S. Department of Education is scheduled to administer the NAEP in the arts again in 2016. The League, together with national partners such as the Arts Education Partnership, helped to create an online resource to help answer frequently asked questions and discuss key findings about the 2008 assessment.
Arts Education State Policy Database
Learn the status of arts education policy in your state, and compare it to others, using the Arts Education Partnership's searchable database. The latest information on state standards, assessments, high school graduation requirements, and more are available in this easy-to-use online resource.
Choices, Changes, and Challenges: Curriculum and Instruction in the NCLB Era
This 2007 report from the Center on Education Policy (CEP) examines the amount of time spent on core academic subjects and how it changed since the enactment of NCLB. 30% of districts with at least one school identified as needing improvement—those with the students most responsive to the benefits of the arts—have decreased instruction time for art and music.
From Anecdote to Evidence: Assessing the Status and Condition of Arts Education at the State Level
Without solid evidence about the status and condition of arts education in the nation's public schools, it is difficult to make a convincing case for the arts. This research and policy brief draws on the experiences of five states—Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington—to discuss various approaches and methodologies for conducting statewide arts education research.
From the Capital to the Classroom: Year 4 of the No Child Left Behind Act
A recent report from the Center on Education Policy (CEP) has captured the attention of the press, public, and policymakers. From the Capital to the Classroom: Year 4 of the No Child Left Behind Act, identifies the opportunities and challenges of NCLB implementation. The survey reports that 71% of districts are making more time for math and reading by reducing other subjects. In 2005-06, nearly one-quarter of the districts surveyed report that instructional time in art and music had been reduced somewhat or to a great extent to make more time for math and reading.
GAO Report Finds Decrease In Access
A 2009 Government Accountability Office report finds that minority and low-income students are experiencing decreases in access to arts education, and that the status of state budgets significantly impacts the availability of arts education in schools. The full report is available online in PDF form, as is a one-page highlights document.
Kennedy Center's Community Audit Tool
The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN) has developed a tool called A Community Audit for Arts Education: Better Schools, Better Skills, Better Communities. Designed to assess the status of arts education in schools and school districts, the tool is also an effective means for community and cultural leaders to encourage community partnerships to strengthen and expand arts education for all students. A new version of the Audit (updated May 2007) is currently available, best viewed using Adobe Reader 6.0 or higher.