The DC State Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution approving Learning Standards for Arts Education in DC public and public charter schools at its regular monthly meeting held on May 21. The Learning Standards for the Arts include: dance, music, theatre and visual arts for students in Pre-K to 12th grade. The learning standards are designed to help students experience the arts as an educational and personal enrichment experience.

"The Arts Education Standards will promote a myriad of new and exciting opportunities for DC students to participate in and to experience some of the best work from the arts community," said DC State Board of Education President Robert Bobb. "We are excited and honored to bring the Arts Standards to a unanimous vote."

The Arts Standards focus on a variety of elements. For example, the area of dance includes ballet, modern, jazz, tap and choreography; the music standards include instrumental, vocal and choral; the theatre standards include improvisation, interpretation and dramatization, design and stage production development; and the visual arts standards include elements of art and principles of design, the use of visual language, production and creative expression.

The State Board of Education unanimously approved the resolution, which was presented and advanced by the DC State Superintendent of Education Deborah A. Gist. In addition, the standards were developed with extensive input and participation from arts groups and organizations, local artists, teachers, administrators, teaching artists and businesses from the DC arts community. The Arts Standards will take effect in the next school year.
 
The approved Arts Standards* are available at sboe.dc.gov and osse.dc.gov.

Contact: Beverley Wheeler (202) 741-0888 or by email: Beverley.Wheeler@dc.gov.