Arts Education Standards

National Standards for Arts Education
Developed by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations, National Standards for Arts Education outlines basic arts learning outcomes integral to the comprehensive education of every American student from kindergarten to grade 12. The consortium published the national standards in 1994 through a grant administered by the Music Educators National Conference. National Standards for Arts Education for theatre, music, dance, and visual art are published on ArtsEdge, the Web site of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The national standards also feature summaries of how children learn and experience the art forms, with observations on how the arts can be taught effectively at grades K–4, 5–8, and 9–12. The following summaries apply to grades K–5, which are the focus of The Arts in Every Classroom.

The Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) Model Core Standards

These standards for licensing teachers represent principles that should be present in all teaching regardless of the subject or grade level taught. They are intended to serve as a framework for the systemic reform of teacher preparation and professional development. The core standards currently are being translated into standards for discipline-specific teaching, including mathematics, English language, science, history/social studies, elementary education, special education, and the arts.

INTASC is a consortium of state education agencies, higher education institutions, and national educational organizations dedicated to reforming the education, licensing, and professional development of teachers.

Opportunity-to-Learn Standards for Arts Education
Developed by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations, these standards for schools address curriculum and scheduling, staffing, materials and equipment, and facilities. These recommendations provide a comprehensive guide to the types and levels of support necessary to achieve the national standards for students.

The print version of Opportunity-to-Learn Standards for Arts Education is available from MENC Publications Sales, 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston VA 20191-4348, 800-828-0229.

The Arts in Basic Curriculum Project based at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has devised “Arts Education Program Assessment Worksheets” based on exemplars from the Opportunity-to-Learn Standards for Arts Education.

State Standards for Arts Education
Thinkfinity provides a summary of arts standards in the 50 U.S. states.