NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

1 NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICSS tatistical Analysis ReportOctober 1995 Arts EDUCATION in PublicElementary and SecondarySchoolsNancy CareyElizabeth FarrisWestat, SikesNational Endowment for the ArtsRita FoyNational Institute on Student Achievement,Curriculum, and AssessmentJudi CarpenterProject OfficerNational CENTER for EDUCATION StatisticsU. S. department of EducationOffice of Educational Research and Improvement NCES department of EducationRichard W. RileySecretaryOffIce of Educational Research and ImprovementSharon P. RobinsonAssistant SecretaryNational CENTER for EDUCATION StatisticsJeanne E. GrifllthActing CommissionerNational Endowment for the ArtsJane AlexanderChairmanOffIce of PartnershipScott SandersDeputy ChairmanArts in EDUCATION ProgramDoug HerbertDirectorPaul PlanchonAssociate CommissionerNational CENTER for EDUCATION StatisticsThe purpose of the CENTER is to collect and report statisticsand information showing the condition and progress ofeducation in the United States and other nations in order topromote and accelerate the improvement of Americaneducation.

2 --Section 402(b) of the NATIONAL EducationStatistics Act of 1994 (20 9001).October 1995 Contact:Judi Carpenter(202) 219-1333 This report was prepared by Westat, hc., under contract with the NATIONAL CENTER for EducationStatistics and under a cooperative agreement with the NATIONAL Endowment for the sale by the Government Printing OfficeSuperintendent of Documents, Mail Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328 ISBN 0-16 -048387-5 HighlightsArts EDUCATION in Public elementary SchoolsMusic is offered in 97 percent of public elementary schoolsin the United States (figure 1). About half (56 percent) ofthe elementary schools that offer music include general,instrumental, and vocal music in their instructional programs(figure 2).Almost three-quarters (70 percent) of public elementa~schools that offer music reported that the subject is taught bycertified music specialists only; 22 percent indicated thatboth specialists and classroom teachers provide 8 percent of elementary schools leave music instructiontotally up to the classroom teacherx (figure 3).

3 Visual arts is offered in 85 percent of public elementaryschools (figure 1). Visual arts specialists oni y provideinstruction in 43 percent of these schools, while bothspecialists and classroom teachers do so in 29 percent of theschools. In 28 percent of these schools, visual arts is taughtby classroom teachers only (figure 3).Visual arts is taught solely by classroom teachers in 53percent of elementary schools in the West, but only 7 percentof schools in the Northeast (figure 4).Less than half (43 percent) of public elementary schoolsoffer any instruction in dance. Only 7 percent of schoolsenlist dance specialists to teach dance; otherwise, dance istaught by physical EDUCATION teachers (figure 6).Very few public elementary schools (8 percent) offerdrama/theatre as a separate subject taught by percent of elementary schools reported that teachemuse dramatic activities, such as enacting stories or plays, toteach other subjects (figure 7).

4 Nearly all public elementary schools (92 percent) providecreative writing instruction as part of the language artscurriculum, rather than offer separate programs in creativewriting (figure 8).Arts EDUCATION in Public secondary Schoolsn The majority of public secondary schoois offer separateinstruction in music (94 percent) and visual arts (89 percent).About half of secondary schools offer separate instruction indrama/theatre (54 percent) and creative writing (47 percent).Very few secondary schools (13 percent) offer classes indance (figure 9)..111In schools that offer separate instruction in arts subjects, anaverage of courses in music and 5 in visual arts aretaught. Approximate y 2 courses each are provided indrama/theatre, creative writing, and dance (table 6).

5 Thirty-nine percent of all public secondary schools reportedthat their chstricts require credit specifically in the ark forgraduation. Another 22 percent require credit in the arts asan option within a specified group of courses, such as arts orforeign language or computer science (table 8).Arts EDUCATION at Both Instructional Levelsn Most public elementary and second ~ schools that offerseparate instruction in arts subjects have curriculumguidelines provided by their school districts (figures 10 and11). However, only one-third of schools at both instructionallevels reported that their districts had arts coordinators orcurriculum specialists on staff (table 7).n Slightly more than one-third of public elementary andsecondary schools have had artists-in-residence during thepast 5 years (figure 13).

6 These artists contributed to schools arts programs primarily though providing knowledge aboutart forms to students through exhibition or instruction (figure14).n The most notable way that parents support their children sartistic efforts is through attendance at school arts in various arts activities is the least likelyavenue for parents to provide support for arts educationprograms (table 12).ivTable of ContentsPageHighlights .. *iiiIntroduction .. 1 ArtsEducationinPublicElementarySchools.. 3 How Are Music and Visual Arts Being Taught in Public elementary Schools? .. 3 HowTeachers ..=.. 8 SpeciallyEquipped Spaces forMusic and Visual ArtsInstmction; .. 9 MElement~Schwls Include Otier A* SubjecK in~eir Curricula? .. 10 Dance ..10 Drama and Theatre ..11 Creative Writing.

7 12 Arts EDUCATION in Public secondary Schools .. 12 How Extensive Is Arts EDUCATION in Public secondary Schools?.. 13 Other Support for Arts EDUCATION in elementary and Seconda~ Schools .. 15 How Do school Districts Provide Additional Support for Arts EDUCATION ?.. 16 Curriculum Guidelines ..16 Voluntary NATIONAL Standards for Arts EDUCATION .. 17 Arts Coordinators ..18 Graduation Requirements ..19 How Do elementary and secondary Schools Support Arts Programs andActivities? ..20 Changes inProfessional Development inthe Arts.. 21 Artist-in-Residence Programs ..21 Presentations of Students Art Work .. 23 UseofTechnology in Teaching the Arts .. 26 Parmtal Support forthe Arts ..27 Arts Programs in Public Schools in the Past 5 years.

8 28 Decision Makers Regarding the Arts Programs Offered in Public Schools .. 29 Schools Views on the Importance of Arts EDUCATION .. 30 Summary and Conclusions ..31 List of AppendicesAppendixASurvey Methodology and Data Reliability.. 35 BTables of Standard Errors ..45cSurvey Forms ..69viList of FiguresFigurePagePercent of public elementary schools that offer music and visual arts: 1994..41234567891011121314151617 Percent of public elementary schools with music programs that include general,instrumental, orvocalmusic: 1994..4 Percent of public elementary schools that offer music and visual arts, bytypeofinstmctor: 1994 .. 0 ..5 Percent of public elementary schools that offer visual arts, by type ofinstructor, bygeographic region: 1994.

9 6 Percent of public elementary schools that offer music and visual artsandareserved byartsspecialists: 1994..71111 Percent of public elementary schools that offer dance: 1994..Percent of public elementary schools that offer drama and theat~: 1994..Percent of public elementary schools offering various methods of creativewriting instruction: 19940 .0..o .. O ..12 Percent of public secondary schools that offer separate instruction in various artssubjects: 1994 ..13 Percent of public elementary schools that offer music and visual arts andindicating that curriculum guidelines are provided by the district: 1994..16 Percent of public secondary schools that offer instruction in various artssubjects and indicating that curriculum guidelines are provided by thedistrict: 1994.

10 Percent of public elementary and secondary schools indicating awareness ofthe vohmtary NATIONAL Standards for Arts EDUCATION , and percent of thoseschools incorporating some of the standards into their arts programs: 1994..18 Percent of public elementary and secondary schools having artists-in-residencein various arts subjects during the past 5 years: 1994..22 Percent of public elementary and secondary schools indicating the contributionstheir artists-in-residence have made to the school : 1994..22 Percent of public elementary and secondary schools that publish literary magazinesofstudents work: 1994 ..25 Percent of public elementary and secondary schools indicating the use or integrationof technology in the teaching of various arts subjects: 1994.