A new state-by-state report from ArtScan — a project of the Arts Education Partnership — details the current arts education policy landscape.
The latest updates capture state arts education standards and instructional requirements, arts education assessment requirements and more. Researchers note that while many decisions around curriculum, instruction and assessment are made at the local level, access to state-level contexts can assist in identifying gaps in learning across states.
“Most states have adopted arts education instructional requirements for elementary, middle and high school students and tailor requirements to align with state standards,” according to the report. “Although arts instructional requirements can be outlined in state policy, it is ultimately on school districts and schools to implement the established requirements. However, factors like teacher shortages, insufficient teacher training, unclear implementation guidelines and varying student needs can cause obstacles for schools to implement state arts instructional requirements.”
California
In some ways, California’s state snapshot shows promise. When it comes to funding, the Golden State was identified as one of just a few that allocate funds for arts education in the state or local budget line items.
Proposition 28, referred to as the Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act, was approved by voters in 2022 and required the state to create an ongoing program to support arts instruction in schools beginning in the 2023–24 academic year. Specifically, Prop 28 allocates 1 percent of the TK-12 portion of Proposition 98 funding guarantee provided in the previous fiscal year — roughly $1 billion annually.
California has no arts requirements for high school graduation, but does include an arts requirement as an alternative for high school graduation, meaning an arts course is included as an option to “fulfill graduation requirements or includes alternative means to earning a required arts credit,” according to the report.
California Education Code states that “A pupil shall complete all of the following while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of graduation from high school: … (E) One course in visual or performing arts, foreign language, or, commencing with the 2012–13 school year, career technical education.”
