Thank you to the many people who have been blog contributors to, and readers of ArtsBlog over the years. ArtsBlog has long been a space where we uplifted stories from the field that demonstrated how the arts strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically; where trends and issues and controversies were called out; and advocacy tools were provided to help you make the case for more arts funding and favorable arts policies.

As part of Americans for the Arts’ recent Strategic Realignment Process, we were asked to evaluate our storytelling communications platforms and evolve the way we share content. As a result, we launched the Designing Our Destiny portal to explore new ways of telling stories and sharing information, one that is consistent with our longtime practice of, “No numbers without a story, and no stories without a number.”

As we put our energy into developing this platform and reevaluate our communications strategies, we have put ArtsBlog on hold. That is, you can read past blog posts, but we are not posting new ones. You can look to the Designing Our Destiny portal and our news items feed on the Americans for the Arts website for stories you would have seen in ArtsBlog in the past.

ArtsBlog will remain online through this year as we determine the best way to archive this valuable resource and the knowledge you’ve shared here.

As ever, we are grateful for your participation in ArtsBlog and thank you for your work in advancing the arts. It is important, and you are important for doing it.

In the Spring of 2014, DCCAH engaged Quadrant Research to work in collaboration with key stakeholders in District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) and District of Columbia Public Charter School (DCPCS) systems to both craft and implement a comprehensive study on the status of arts education. The purpose of this study was to determine the breadth and depth of arts education programming and resources currently in place in the city’s schools in order to create a baseline of knowledge on which to build. This document holds many positive indicators as to what is currently in place in both public school systems in the city. It also includes recommendations for further steps that would complement and supplement what is currently in place to ensure that DCCAH’s goal is realized in the years to come.
Data was collected in six domains i.e. Policies, Student Enrollment, Certi ed Educators, Resources, Course Offerings, and Arts Community Partnerships. Of the schools surveyed:

  • At least 85% of elementary, 50% of middle and 42% of high school students participate in at least one arts course with music and visual arts being the most popular;
  • 96% of DCPS students have arts education courses in their schools, with both music and visual art nearly universally available (85% of students);
  • 91% of DCPS schools have at least one full time arts educator with music and visual art being the most common;
  • All high schools meet the current graduation requirements and 23% of high schools EXCEED them;
  • More than 50% of all schools have arts education goals; • Only 18% of schools reported using outside funding to offset budget decreases;
  • 65% of all DC schools have long term partnerships with cultural organizations. This is significantly higher than what is seen in any other state where this area has been measured; and 
  • 93% of all schools reported providing students field trips to museums, theatres, musical performances and exhibitions to engage students in artistic experiences.

Things to Watch Of the schools surveyed:

  1. Access to dance and theatre opportunities are significantly reduced from music and visual arts;
  2. Arts Courses are not mandatory. Increase participation in all 8 wards;
  3. While most students participate in the arts fewer students are receiving deeper experiences (For example: only 3 middle schools have band and only one has a chorus or orchestra);
  4. More than 60% of schools spend less than $10 per pupil per year for arts instructional materials. At the elementary level, the per-pupil arts spending is only 2.5 cents per day;
  5. Charter schools have significantly lower student participation and fewer course offerings in the arts;
  6. Assessment of student skills and knowledge in the arts is mostly driven by teacher-developed assessments (86%) with less than 1 in 10 schools reporting district developed assessments in the arts and 14% reporting “no assessment”; and
  7. Less than 25% of schools have an arts education strategic plan.

In the Spring of 2014, DCCAH engaged Quadrant Research to work in collaboration with key stakeholders in District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) and District of Columbia Public Charter School (DCPCS) systems to both craft and implement a comprehensive study on the status of arts education.

Report
Lisa Richards Toney
6
January, 2014
File Title: 
DC Arts Education Census 2013-2014
Publisher Reference: 
D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities
Research Abstract
Is this an Americans for the Arts Publications: 
No
Image Thumbnail of Pub Cover: 
2014