Arts Education Resources

Build your understanding and awareness of policy, research efforts, and key partners.

Arts Policy

Washington State

  • RCW 28A.230.305:

    Washington State law requires that all schools with more than 200 students offer at least one visual art or a least one performing art course throughout the school year and that students must have access to arts coursework “that is commensurate with instruction in other core subject arts.”

  • RCW 28A.150.210 Washington State law defines arts as a core subject area and it is included in the state’s definition of basic education.

Arts education policy is usually set by state-level governments but informed by many non-governmental partners.

  • ArtScan, developed by the Arts Education Partnership, is a searchable collection of state policies and state-level reports pertaining to arts education in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

National

Arts Education Research

Arts education data and research can help identify areas of success and gaps in student access and participation with arts and cultural learning.  Data can inform students, educators, parents, community members, funders, and policy makers.

Washington State

  • This report shares successes and opportunities through a focus on neighborhood K–12 pathways, teaching and learning, partnerships, and systems change within Seattle Public Schools. View the report here.

  • This brief reviews and documents arts education research efforts and policy changes in Washington State.

  • This pilot project between the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and 4Culture provides arts education data for King County high schools. Learn more about the project here.

  • This report by the Creative Advantage includes data analysis and recommendations for creative strategies in career connected learning. Read the full report here.

  • Cornerstones of Creative Capacity (C3) is a project designed by ArtsEd Washington. It identifies the chief components needed to maintain arts education within school districts. Read more about the project here.

  • This report describes the quality of public education in Washington State. It is based on a survey of K-12 principals from 37 of 39 Washington counties (2007-2008). View it here.

  • This excerpt from K-12 Arts Education: Every Student, Every School Every Year, contains suggestions and practices for providing consistent arts learning opportunities for all students. View it here

  • This report provides measurable data on the length and quality of student learning in the arts. View the report here.

  • This report details ArtsWA’s efforts to collect data on the frequency and strength of arts instruction in K-12 schools. View the report here.

National

  • This report reviews demonstrated benefits of arts education while highlighting current inequities in access. The report also lays out a comprehensive set of tangible policy recommendations. View the report here.

  • This report by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards addresses the status of state arts standards revision and outlines steps to adoption. View the report here.

  • This report addresses the increased flexibility that ESSA provides to ensure that all students experience a well-rounded education that includes the arts. View the report here.

  • This Education Trends report explores successful practices for arts integration. View the report here

  • This National Dropout Prevention Center/Network White Paper provides research on the value of arts education to prevent dropouts. Read the full paper here.

  • The report provides an analysis of outcomes in a pilot cohort of schools participating in arts integration. Read the report here.

  • The study focuses on the effects of arts engagement on youth from low-income backgrounds. Explore the full study here.

  • This report is on the availability of arts education programs in public K-12 schools by discipline (music, visual arts, dance, and theatre). View the full report here.

  • This paper outlines the roles of partners who are responsible for providing system-wide, sustainable K-12 arts education for all students. Read the full paper here.

Arts Education Partners and Organizations

Many different organizations work to ensure access to arts education and resources for PreK-12th grade students.

Washington State

  • ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. We are a state agency, formed by the Washington State Legislature in 1961. Our mission is to nurture and support the role of the arts in the lives of all Washingtonians.

  • ArtsEd Washington: ArtsEd Washington is a non-profit organization dedicated to making arts education a meaningful part of the K-12 educational experience for every student in Washington State.

  • Inspire Washington nurtures the human spirit and strengthens communities by increasing access to science, heritage, and arts programming through advocacy, resource development, education, and coalition building.

  • The Arts in Washington state include dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. Quality instruction in the Arts is provided by specialists and classroom teachers and supported by partnerships with professional organizations and community programs.

  • The Washington Art Education Association (WAEA) has about 325 members, including K-12 art teachers from public and private schools, administrators, museum educators, art school and college professors, retired and pre-service educators. WAEA is affiliated, at the national level, with the National Art Education Association (NAEA).

  • Washington State Thespians is a chapter of the Educational Theatre Association(EdTA). WA Thespians hosts multiple events to honor student achievement and support theatre educators in our state.

  • The Washington Music Educators Association, founded in 1927, has been a federated state unit of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) since 1937. WMEA supports music educators in an effort to ensure that every student in Washington State has access to a comprehensive, sequential music education taught by highly qualified and certified teachers.

  • Dance Educators Association of Washington supports and advocates for the dance community in Washington State.

National

  • The Arts Education Partnership is a national network of more than 200 organizations dedicated to advancing arts education. AEP offers resources, an annual convening, and support for collective impact approaches.

  • The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) is a non-profit organization that supports dance educators in every setting and genre, dedicated to advancing dance education for people of all backgrounds.

  • Founded in 1947, the National Art Education Association is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts, design, and media arts education professionals.

  • NAfME is a collaborative community that supports music educators and advocates for equitable access to music education.

  • The Educational Theatre Association is an international nonprofit that serves as the professional association for theatre educators.

  • NAMAE advances and promote standards of excellence in media arts education.

Regional - coming soon

Interested in adding to this resource list?
Want to report a broken link?
Email arts4all@inspirewashington.org.