External assessments are pervasive in education, particularly with the testing environment created by the "No Child Left Behind" reform initiative. To solidify its position as a core subject within education, art needs to be accountable to its standards at both national and state levels. Art can be assessed for accountability purposes internally and on a regular basis through a district-wide "school-based assessment" system (SBA). Within the ambit of SBA, a model of curriculum and assessment known as rich tasks is not only feasible but also desirable. This article discusses the concept of rich tasks. It provides examples of rich tasks and ways on how to create a high quality rich task. The theoretical construct of the rich task has utility for a challenging and engaging unit of instruction as well as a valid and meaningful unit of assessment. As a component of SBA, the rich task holds great potential for assessment, pedagogical, and curricular reforms. (Contains 2 tables and 3 endnotes.)