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Factors for Arts Education Success
Many critical factors work together throughout a school district to bring
about an effective arts education program:
- Community — The community (broadly defined as parents
and families, artists, arts organizations, businesses, and local civic
and cultural leaders and institutions) is actively engaged in the arts
politics and instructional programs of the district.
- School Board — The board of education provides a supportive
policy framework and environment for the arts.
- Superintendent — The superintendent regularly articulates
a vision for arts education.
- Continuity — There is enough continuity in the school
and community leadership to implement comprehensive arts education.
- District Arts Coordinator — The district arts coordinator
facilitates program implementation throughout the school system and
maintains an environment of support for arts education.
- Cadre of Principals — School principals collectively
support the policy of arts education for all students.
- Teacher as Artist — Effective teachers of the arts are
encouraged to continue to learn and grow in mastery of their art form
as well as in their teaching competence.
- Parent/Public Relations — School leaders seize opportunities
to make their programs known throughout the community to secure support
and funding for them.
- Elementary Foundation — Strong arts programs in the elementary
schools are the foundation for strong systemwide programs.
- Opportunities for Higher Levels of Achievement — School
leaders provide specialized arts programs as part of their broad strategy
for securing and sustaining community support for the district's overall
education goals.
- National, State, and Other Outside Forces — The district
employs state or national policies and programs to advance arts education.
- Planning — School leaders advise the adoption of a comprehensive
vision and plan for arts education but recommend its incremental implementation.
- Continuous Improvement — The school district promotes
reflective practices at all levels of the schools to improve quality.
Source: Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons from
School Districts That Value Arts Education, President's Committee
on the Arts and the Humanities and Arts Education Partnership, 1999
For more perspectives on teaching the arts in elementary schools, see
The Arts in Every Classroom video library programs:
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