'Why study the arts at school?' This book offers a fresh perspective on this question. Informed by rigorous research, the book argues that the arts help young people to develop key skills, knowledge and practices that support them to become both critical appreciative audiences and socially engaged cultural producers. Drawing on a three-year study…

The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) is a comprehensive survey administered online to the arts alumni of participating institutions. Founded in 2008, SNAAP is based at the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research of the School of Education and administered in cooperation with the Indiana University Center for Survey…

This article explores the process of using lessons learned about high quality, effective arts education programs to help local educational leaders and practitioners create their own policy statements. It raises questions about policy implications from those lessons and connects them to the readers' own experience. It provides an intellectual…

This paper examines and reports on beginning generalist teacher self-efficacy, which Bandura (1997) suggests plays an important part in student outcomes. In 2008, 201 beginning generalist teachers throughout the state of Queensland, Australia, participated in a study that aimed to provide a snapshot of current perceptions towards support in…

This document is a background paper for satellite town meeting on the "Goals 2000: Educate America Act." The paper discusses the importance of studying the arts for themselves, and as a means of helping students learn other subjects. It suggests that studying the arts prepares students for the workplace and helps to build the United…

The 'back-to-basics' movement has concerned many art educators. Recent legislation in Florida has ensured fine art programs in the elementary and secondary school years and strengthened the art teacher certification requirements. (DF)

The National Art Education Association (NAEA) has established five specific goals in order to achieve quality art education for all students. This document describes: (1) a definition of quality art education; (2) outcomes of quality art education; and (3) reasons for the NAEA goals. Each goal is identified and interpreted, and reasons for its…

Contributions by California art educators in this guide outline issues underlying performance assessment and provide examples of assessment for the arts from kindergarten through grade 12. Chapter 1 introduces art as basic to education and presents the potential of art education for all students. Chapter 2 examines performance assessment by giving…

The attitudes of secondary school headteachers, art teachers, and art pupils toward art education were examined, with particular focus on the factors that play an important role in the performance of pupils in the "O" level art examinations ("O" level refers to ordinary school certificate). A multiple-choice questionnaire was…

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), as part of their Arts and the Schools Project, surveyed state education agencies (SEAs) to determine policies and practices in relation to arts education in public schools. Art subjects were defined to include creative writing, dance, drama, music, and visual arts. The study focused on: (1)…

Asserts that there is little research about preservice art specialist education. Reviews literature and questionnaire results and offers suggestions about research and practices for preservice art education programs. Recommends a carefully constructed research agenda on art teachers' knowledge about subject matter content. (CFR)

Describes the origin and development of the National K-12 Standards for Arts Education. Discusses issues related to the fine arts being left out of the original national standards documents. Maintains that the standards are essential if the fine arts are to maintain parity with other curriculum subject areas. (CFR)

Discusses formation and implementation of educational policy in an era of financial shortages. Presents four principles essential to understanding policy operation in any social setting. Concludes that there is promise for the development of policies favorable to the arts within school cultures. (CFR)

Emphasizes the need to improve the quality and quantity of arts education programing in public schools. Suggests ways to improve preservice and inservice teacher programs in the collaborative arts. Existing programs stress that the arts are interrelated components with many possibilities for collaboration. Institutions with interdisciplinary arts…

Asserts that a paradoxical situation exists in the United States where the general public and policymakers support enhanced arts education, but it remains marginal to the curriculum. Proposes 10 strategies by which arts education can be improved and enhanced. (CFR)