The National Art Education Association (NAEA) launched the Connected Arts Networks (CAN) initiative in September 2022. CAN is a collaborative effort among the NAEA, the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and other esteemed partners, including the Educational Theater Association (EdTA), the National Association for Music Education…

This article traces the ways in which arts education funding and policy may be implemented and realized through different roles in a large urban school system, from policy makers to the ground level within the New York City Department of Education. Those who engage with arts policy at the ground level such as teachers and administrators experience…

The aim of this article is to explore the influence of private foundation funding on arts policy and practice in two large, urban school districts: Boston Public Schools and Baltimore City Schools. Both school systems experienced declining enrollments and graduation rates, and in an era of high stakes testing and accountability, schools in both…

This report discusses current developments and status of art therapists in public schools, with recommendations for occupational titles, program effectiveness, and legislative change to identify art therapists as service providers for students with special needs. Interview results from a small sample of art therapists employed in New York State…

Public schools often offer arts opportunities to certain students. Educator assessments of which students should receive services are of great importance in such circumstances as teacher referrals often play a major role in such decisions. Little is known, however, about educator beliefs regarding which gifted children should receive arts…

Attention has been drawn to the persistent underrepresentation of underserved populations in gifted education programs. Though a small number of working-class students, students of color, recent immigrants, and students with limited English proficiency attend these programs, access to gifted education remains closely linked to White and…

At the heart of current education reform is the charter school movement. Charter schools, their role in the New Orleans, Louisiana, educational community, and the effect of charter schools on students with special needs are the focus of this article. New Orleans, Louisiana, has the largest number of students attending public charter schools in the…

Arts education and special education within public schools have faced similar challenges in the wake of school reform. Services and programming have been reduced, leaving a larger gap in resources and accessibility. Because of loopholes in policy, new reform initiatives such as vouchers and charter schools will continue to marginalize students…

"Education Matters" is the monthly newsletter of the Association of American Educators (AAE), an organization dedicated to advancing the American teaching profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection. This issue of the newsletter includes: (1) Is She Your Competition? Are India's Students…