C&I

Curriculum and Instruction

Archived News

Archived News items are listed chronologically. To read a news item, click on the link to access the information.

U.S. Secretary of Education Affirms Value of Arts Education
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released a letter to school officials and community leaders across the nation reminding them of the important role of arts education in a student's life. This letter offers strong encouragement to education decision makers to find time and funds in the school day to offer a comprehensive, sequential and standards-based arts education.
The 2008 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in Art results played an essential part in reminding Duncan of the role that arts education plays in a well rounded education. http://www.aep-arts.org/NAEP.html external link Duncan reminded school and education leaders that under the ESEA, states and local school districts have the flexibility to support the arts through Federal Title I and II programs and U.S. Department of Education programs, including professional development of arts teachers as well as for strategic partnerships with cultural, arts and other nonprofit organizations. In addition, Duncan stated that local school districts can use funds under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the arts along with other district expenses.
Duncan also outlined the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics' (NCES) next steps for supporting the arts as part of a well-rounded curriculum. These efforts include the undertaking of a survey in the coming year to assess the condition of arts education in grades K-12 and identify where there are gaps to be filled. To read Arne Duncan’s letter go to http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/secletter/090826.html external link

A Report on Prek-12 Music Education

The New York State School Music Association's Classroom Music Committee has produced A Report on PreK-12 Music Education in New York State with a Special Focus on the Middle Level. The report provides an overview of the status of classroom music education with specific information on middle level music programs, NYSSMA benefits/services, and the effect the learning standards have had on music education programs in the State. The report can be accessed at http://www.nyssma.org/committees.cfm?subpage=111 external link icon.

SAT Scores and Studies in the Arts, 2008 Report

The academic information below includes National and New York State SAT Reasoning Test™ mean scores with breakdown by years of Arts study and course work. This information shows a general pattern that correlates more years of study in the arts with higher SAT scores.

Findings Reported from Dana Arts and Cognition Consortium

A three-year study to discover whether early training in the performing arts has a visible impact on cognition through detectable changes in brain processes has reported its results. The group of nine investigators have published findings that will allow further research and discussion of the preliminary, but promising impact of the arts on the brain. To read about their research, go to http://dana.org/news/publications/detail.aspx?id=11528 external link icon

Lesson Bytes

The New York State School Music Association's (NYSSMA's) Curriculum Committee has developed an online resource called Lesson Bytes. As part of NYSSMA's website, it contains instructional materials related to the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts and expands on the publication, Music: A Resource Guide for Standards-Based Instruction. A more detailed description is available at http://www.nyssma.org/curriculum_welcome.cfm external icon link. The Lesson Bytes can be accessed at http://www.nyssma.org/curriculum.cfm external icon link.

Middle Level Indicators of Achievement Checklists for the Non-Tested Content Areas

The Middle Level Indicators of Achievement Checklists for the Non-Tested Content Areas are now available. You may access an introductory memorandum and the checklists in HTML format at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/rss/mle/clmemo.htm. The checklists are also available in Word and PDF format at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/rss/mle/mlehome.html.

In February 2005, the Board of Regents approved a three-model (Models A, B and C) strategy to implement the Regents Policy Statement on Middle Level Education.  To support school districts and their schools with middle grades, regardless of which model they implement, the Department developed the Middle Level Indicators of Achievement Checklists. Local school administrators and instructional staff can use the checklists to determine strengths and opportunities for improvement in the content areas of Family and Consumer Sciences-Home and Career Skills, Health Education, Library Media, Music Education, Physical Education, Technology Education and Visual Arts Education, and to facilitate student achievement of the New York State Learning Standards. 

Technical Changes to CR 100.5(d)(2) Approved

At its November 13-14, 2003 meeting the Board of Regents approved technical changes to section 100.5(d)(2)(i) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. The action clarifies requirements in the visual arts and/or music, dance or theatre to provide students who enter grade 9 after 2001 with course options, such as participating in a school’s major performing group or in an advanced out-of–school activity. These alternatives have been used by previous students and are now available to current and future students for satisfying the one unit of credit high school diploma requirement in the Arts (visual arts, music, dance and theatre).
View the revised regulatory language and related policy statements

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Last Updated: March 11, 2011