2006-2007 State Arts Education Policy Database Fact Sheet

The 2006-2007 State Arts Education Policy Database contains information on state arts education policy gathered in Summer 2006. The database contains information collected primarily from state departments of education. The source of the information was principally the arts education consultant within the department of education. In some cases, responses came from other state department of education representatives, state arts council representatives and other state arts education sources.

If you have specific questions regarding a state's answer, we encourage you to contact the State Department of Education representative directly with the contact information provided for each state.

Notes on terminology:

	"State Arts Education Policy" refers to policies pertaining to arts education that exist within a state and may include, in some instances, district or local level policies as well as state level.
	"Licensure and certification" are the means by which a state determines that an individual is qualified to teach. The two terms are often used interchangeably.
	"Four content areas" of the arts refers to dance, music, theater and visual arts.
	For consistency, "theatre" has been changed to "theater" in all instances except for direct quotations.

The database contains summaries of state policy on the following topics:

1. State arts education mandate
	Is education in the arts mandated in your state for K-12?
	Are content areas specified?
	What is the requirement for each? (number and category of credits, minimum time required)
	Can you cite legal authority from state code or regulations?

2. State standards for the arts
	Are there arts standards in your state?
	Are content areas specified?
	Have the standards been implemented? If not, where are they in the process?

3. State assessment measures in the arts
	Does your state have assessment measures in place for evaluating students in the arts?
	What is the assessment measures specified?

4. Arts requirements for high school graduation
	Is there an arts education requirement for all students for high school graduation in your state?
	What is the requirement? (number and category of credits)

5. Arts requirements for college entrance
	Is education in the arts required for admission to colleges and universities in your state?
	Are content areas/disciplines specified?
	What is the requirement for each? (number and category of credits)

6. Licensure/certification requirements for arts teachers
	Are there licensing requirements for arts teachers in your state?
	Are content areas/disciplines specified?
	What is the requirement for each? (number and category of credits)

7. Licensure/certification requirements for general (elementary) classroom teachers
	Is education in the arts specifically required for licensure as an elementary teacher in your state?
	Are content areas/disciplines specified?
	What is the requirement for each? (number and category of credits)

8. Arts coursework requirements for non-arts teachers
	Does your state have any arts requirements for undergraduate students in non-arts elementary and secondary teacher preparation?

9. Professional development requirements for arts teachers
	Are requirements specified for the recertification of arts teachers in your state?
	What is the requirement for each? (number and category of credits)

10. Current or recent state-appointed task forces or commissions relevant to arts education

11. Chief State School Officer statement supportive of arts education

12. State Department of Education's website

13. State Department of Education Contact Person

Additional Resources:

ECS Artscan Database
The Education Commission of the States (ECS) Artscan database provides state-level statutes or codes related to the arts in education on several topics, including:

1. access and participation;
2. standards, curriculum and assessment;
3. teaching quality;
4. state-sponsored schools for the arts; and
5. other state policies.

Users can generate individual state profiles, create state comparisons of specific arts education policies, and view compiled 50-state reports.

Please visit http://www.ecs.org/html/educationIssues/ArtsinEducation/ArtscanDB_intro.asp for more information.