Advancing Arts Education in Arizona

Overview & Synopsis

While many states, like Arizona, have specific requirements for K-12 arts education either in statute or administrative code, data show serious gaps in policy implementation by schools and school districts. Complicating the situation is the lack of enforcement authority by either the Arizona Department of Education or the gubernatorially appointed Arizona State Board of Education. Arizona is addressing challenges to equal access and equity in arts education for all K-12 students through initiatives by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and the Arizona Commission on the Arts (ACA) and through their expanded grassroots advocacy in partnership with Arizona Citizens for the Arts (AzCA). In addition to increasing equity and access to arts education, these initiatives intend to demonstrate to the Arizona State Board of Education, local school districts, and other policymakers that arts education provides real benefits to all students and that there are ways to make arts education available to all students even in the face of resource scarcity. ADE and ACA also have expanded their own efforts to provide federal, state, and local resources to support curricula, arts-based partnerships, program evaluation, and training and development for educators. This article shares three key examples that illustrate how these efforts are encouraging arts education offerings, as well as developing a larger portfolio of Arizona-based research about the impact of arts education.