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| Issue No. 3 | September 2009
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Arts Education Policy Forum Report
Michigan Youth Arts was pleased to bring forth the 2009 Arts Education Policy Forum in August. The convening was an overwhelming success with representatives from several statewide arts education associations and government agencies in attendance.
 This convening was at a critical point for all of us involved in the education of future generations. The strength of our combined efforts is key to giving us a louder voice throughout Michigan and beginning a dialog that will shape arts education policy for years to come.
For almost fifty years, Michigan Youth Arts has brought together some of our state's finest student talent through the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. Now, as we move towards the next fifty years, we are bringing together the state's arts education associations to ensure the future of quality arts education for all of Michigan's students.
The published report is being presented throughout all statewide arts education associations for endorsement this month. We look forward to wide endorsements from the arts and cultural community at large as we launch this years 2010 Arts Education Policy Agenda.
For more information or a copy, please contact, Kim Dabbs.
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Kennedy Center Grant to Help ArtServe Update an Important Resource to Arts Education Advocates
ArtServe is proud to announce that we have been awarded a $13,553 grant from the Kennedy Center National Partnerships to develop a new Arts Education Advocacy Toolkit in 2010. The new resource will be modeled on the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network toolkit released in 2009 and designed to equip and empower you to be an effective advocate for the importance of arts education in Michigan. We anticipate sharing the new toolkit with you at our virtual Arts and Cultural Advocacy Conference in March 2010. Thank you to the Kennedy Center National Partnership program! |
Arts Educators Work Together at the State and National Level
During the week of August 3rd, arts educators were busy in Lansing, Michigan and at the national level ensuring that high quality sequential arts instruction is a core component of every student's education.
On August 5th and 6th, twenty K-16 music educators worked together at the Lansing Radisson to review Michigan's 1998 Music Education Standards, Benchmarks and 2004 Draft Grade Level Content Expectations. As part of this "Second Look" work, these learning objectives were also aligned to the Credit Guidelines for the Michigan Merit Curriculum's Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts graduation requirement, and to 21st century skills.
The Music Education Second Look follows similar work completed in the visual arts in June 2009. Educators in both disciplines worked in grade-span groups (elementary, middle, and high school) which met as a group of the whole as needed to confer on common understandings and issues of concern. Both the Visual Arts and Music Education Second Look editing continues via a wiki which will be shared with arts education associations prior to going through the official Michigan Department of Education review process. Updates on the project will be shared at both the Michigan Art Education Association Convention, November 5-8, 2009 in Kalamazoo, MI and the Michigan Music Conference, January 21-23, 2010 in Grand Rapids, MI. Review and alignment of dance and theatre education learning objectives is scheduled for 2010.
As they worked together in Lansing, Michigan Second Look Music Educators were able to tune in via podcast and blog to a meeting of twenty-seven national leaders in arts education also taking place August 5-6 in Annapolis, MD. The national meeting was convened by State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The purpose of this meeting was to discuss and arrive at consensus on National Expectations for Learning in the Arts (NELAE). Components of this work are expected to address:
Students:
Standards
Curriculum
Assessment
Teachers:
Pre-serivce
In-service
Educational Leadership:
Role of principals and other administrators
Policies:
National level
State level
Local level
Partnerships:
Outside arts providers
Professional organizations
Advocacy organizations
Parents groups
Data:
Descriptive data on programs and practices
Longitudinal student achievement data
Expect to hear more about this comprehensive process that by consensus of those organizations and individuals represented in this first NELAE meeting will be state-led, follow a transparent and inclusive process, be student-centered, and collaborative.
Ana Luisa Cardona Consultant for Arts Education Michigan Department of Education cardonaa@michigan.gov517-335-0466 |
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National News
Links and highlights from nationwide arts education coverage.
U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan wrote a letter regarding the importance of arts education and held a conference call to speak with the field about innovation. A full transcript and audio file of the call with Secretary Duncan is available online. Descriptions of arts education grants available are at the Office of Innovation and Improvement.
Federal Department of Education to Undertake K-12 Arts Education Survey. Education Secretary Arne Duncan's letter to the education community also included the news that the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will conduct a survey to assess the condition of arts education in grades K-12. In the coming year, principals, classroom teachers and arts specialists will be asked about their schools' offerings in music, dance, theater, and visual arts. The data is expected to help practitioners and policymakers make more informed decisions about arts education. The results of the study are due out in early 2011.
 October is National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM).
Be one of the 10,000 communities and millions of people throughout the United States who celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month every year. Join us in recognizing the many ways the arts and culture enhance our lives. Visit the NAHM website for additional information and to add your event to the national map!
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