AEP is committed to enhancing ArtScan to continuously meet the needs of our network as they utilize the database for their respective work. We are excited about this year’s update…or upgrade as some may consider it. Our goals with the changes this year are to make the database easier to use and have more coverage of students with arts education opportunities. Through surveys, research and conversations with our partners we created a new comparison tool and added a new profile that services around 70,000 students.

Comparison Tool: Prior to this year, AEP had state reports that compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia within specific policy areas. We found that our partners were interested in comparing states that would uplift their advocacy efforts, states within regions, and policy areas our prior reports did not cover. With our new comparison tool users will have the flexibility to compare the different states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity with as many policy areas as they wish. Users can generate reports that best meet their needs whether it’s for research, a meeting with a legislator or part of a larger report on arts education policy. Are there any states and policies you’ve been wanting to compare? I encourage you to set some time aside and play around with this new comparison tool.

New Profile: Our partners at the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) brought to our attention that there is a population of students receiving arts education opportunities that we were not capturing. After World War II, the U.S. military established schools for students whose parents serve in the military and later created the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). The DoDEA has 160 accredited schools spread throughout the Pacific, Europe and the Americas. This federally operated school system services students from grades PK-12. With an estimated 70,000 students served, it is important to acknowledge the arts education and learning opportunities available to educators and youth abroad. See what arts education opportunities are available on the DoDEA profile page.

AEP will continue to meet the needs of a user-friendly and policy-driven database with ArtScan. Take a look at what is new in your state profile!

This post comes from the Arts Education Partnership, a national coalition of over 100 education, arts, business, culture, government and philanthropy organizations at Education Commission of the States. AEP would also like to thank their colleagues at Education Commission of the States and their partners at the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education for their support in developing the 2021 ArtScan update.