Academia and education advocates have reported a concern about the elimination of art and music education classes from high school curriculums in the United States. Studies using mean SAT test scores from 1984 and 1994 versions of the SAT test indicated participants who had art and music education classes had higher verbal and mathematical SAT…

This dissertation study was designed in response to the focus in schools on test scores and accountability, which has increasingly impacted students' experiences in schools as well as art education curriculum and pedagogy. In this study, I responded to and aimed to disrupt the neoliberal culture of public schools in my high school art classroom by…

As technology advances worldwide, educational institutions continue to utilize concepts of digital learning in many curricular areas. However, areas such as art bring unique challenges when utilizing digital instruments. Because the visual arts include a wide-ranging variety of inspired skills and techniques, art educators are laboriously tasked…

Currently, studies on STEAM education or arts integration focus on students' experiences rather than teachers' challenges. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation is to set an example for policymakers, educators, and researchers, to provide better support for art-integrated mathematics and biology teachers by understanding their professional…

This paper aims to understand the barriers that face access to the arts in rural high schools and to offer a selection of potential change ideas to combat these barriers that exist in school settings. The literature review shows that access to the arts in rural communities is a barrier to complete education for school aged children because rural…

The purpose of the study was to investigate alumni's and educators' perceptions of the ways social-emotional learning, as embedded through arts education, has influenced the post-secondary lives of high school students. While time constraints, differing values of stakeholders, and budgetary restrictions continue to challenge the role of…

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate self-efficacy as a potential mediator in the relationship between the amount of time students spent during high school participating in the arts and their current science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) motivation levels. The study participants (N = 68) were between the ages of…

High-stakes statewide testing, low levels of knowledge surrounding the benefits of arts integration, and fiscal challenges have led to schools cutting arts programs in servitude toward higher test scores. This phenomenon has affected the existence and level of arts integration present in non-arts courses. The purpose of this dissertation was to…

Though art education and creative placemaking are two established fields within the arts and culture ecosystem, very little research examines the intersections of these two domains. Specifically, a gap exists in practitioner voices to share their practical knowledge and experiences in the field. This study is an investigation of intersections…

The benefits of arts education have been widely explored by researchers. However, much of the research conducted has been done with broad strokes encompassing all arts disciplines. Additionally, the studies conducted have focused primarily on quantitative data and relationships of student achievement to their participation in the arts. There is…

For nearly one hundred years, from progressive education to critical pedagogy, philosophers, researchers, and educators have advocated for listening, respecting, and providing space for the learner's voice within education. When teaching challenging science content, it is vital to provide both a context for the knowledge and a reason for learning…

The role of arts education has been discussed at length throughout the United States for many years. Arts educational programs have maintained resounding successes in graduation and attendance statistics. However, it is unclear if there is a correlation or causal relationship between arts education programs and students' self-efficacy and sense of…

The purpose of the study was to explore how a group of at-risk youth in a South Florida alternative high school experienced a freehand visual arts drawing lesson as a learning portal to the teaching of the basic principles of geometry. These young people were completely devoid of interest in and failed to understand basic geometrical concepts.…

High school graduation is the single largest hurdle that students must achieve to prepare for college and career (National Governor's Association, 2011). Fleischman & Heppen (2009) agree that American high schools must address the problem of declining graduation rate. Approximately 1.28 million students drop out of high school annually (Amos,…

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of inclusive postmodern visual arts education for students with ED. The research examines arts learning, social skill interaction development, and general academic achievement. Previous research in the field of special education has focused almost exclusively on behavioral interventions from…