ArtServe
Michigan, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and Michigan
Department of Education Release Survey Report on State of Arts Education Survey is first
comprehensive study in 12 years SOUTHFIELD,
MI (January 13, 2003)
– ArtServe Michigan (ASM), the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural
Affairs (MCACA), and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) have
together released the results of a school year 2001-2002 survey on arts
education. The
Survey Report, Arts Alive! The 2001 Survey Report on the State of Arts
Education in Michigan Schools Grades K-12, suggests that Michigan still
has work to do when it comes to providing a quality arts education to all
students. It further suggests
that while arts education has taken a back seat to testing and budget cuts
in certain areas of the state, schools and districts continue to find ways
to expose their students to the arts. “This
report gives us a new baseline to help us know what needs to be done
throughout Michigan to expand arts education opportunities in the schools
and what role our organizations must play in the coming decade,” explained
Barbara Kratchman, president of ArtServe Michigan.
“In view of recent federal budget cuts in education and the arts,
this information is especially critical to anyone involved in arts education
including teachers, parents, artists, administrators, arts and cultural
organizations and others.” The
students highlighted by the results of this Survey represent approximately
44% of the 1.8 million students enrolled in public schools, public academies
and non–public schools in Michigan. More
than 300 public school districts/academies and non-public schools responded
to the survey, with the most responses coming from elementary schools,
followed by junior high/middle schools and senior high schools. The
Survey Report consisted of 36 questions about dance, drama, music and the
visual arts in grades K-12 with reference to policy/administration,
teachers, professional development, curriculum, budgets and best practices. As an example, the Survey revealed that specialists in the
fields of Dance and Drama/Theatre are extremely scarce throughout the state;
however, the report also shows a steady proliferation of involvement by the
arts and cultural community in schools throughout Michigan. “We
know that arts education is a unique and integral part of a world-class
education. The State Board of Education approved a new accreditation system
titled Education YES!—A Yardstick for Excellent Schools, which looks at
arts education and humanities as one of four indicators of
instructional quality in schools,” said Tom Watkins, Michigan’s
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Watkins continued “Education YES! Provides a new role for arts
education in which incremental, but steady progress will be key.
Arts Alive provides baseline data for where we are and where
we need to improve.”
“This
report gives us concrete statistics from public and private schools
throughout Michigan, which can better equip the entire state to improve arts
education in our schools. The
future for arts education in Michigan is encouraging, but there is always
more work to be done,” said MCACA’s Executive Director Betty Boone.
While thousands of studies have been published to address the impact
of the arts on student participation and achievement, parental involvement,
community cohesion, and other global issues, Arts Alive is the first
report in 12 years about arts education in Michigan.
Previously published was The State of Arts Education in Public
Schools 1988-89 study funded by the Michigan Council for the Arts and
the National Endowment for the Arts.
Contact Donna Edwards,
Director, Education Initiatives to purchase copies of the 2001 Survey Report.
The survey
report is also available in PDF form on the websites of ArtServe Michigan www.artservemichigan.org,
the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs www.cis.state.mi.us/arts/home.htm
and the Michigan Department of Education www.michigan.gov/mde.
Funding for the survey was provided by General Motors, Hudson-Webber
Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and The John
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
ArtServe Michigan, an
independent statewide not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with offices in
Southfield and Lansing, builds support for the arts, artists and cultural
activities throughout Michigan through advocacy, education and services. The Michigan Council for Arts
and Cultural Affairs serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched
environment of artistic, creative, and cultural activity in Michigan. The Michigan Department of
Education assists the State Board of Education in providing educational
leadership, advising the State Legislature on the financial needs of
schools; provides technical assistance to local Intermediate School
Districts; and approves the certification of teachers. For
more information about ArtServe, its programs and services or to become a
member, call (248) 557-8288 x 18 #
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