Agreeing on what the major goals of art education should be is particularly important in an era of national school reform and accountability. The need to be accountable and to provide data that supports that accountability is evident, although not always provided. Without clear and measurable goals, art education cannot be made accountable in today's reform climate. This book analyzes the changes in the social context of art and how these changes have impacted K-12 and university-level education. The changes described, plus the current culture of accountability, have led many art educators to question the goal or message of arts-based curriculum. The authors reaffirm art's place in education by describing it as not just a discipline or form, but an idea, even a language, and advocate that art is a social enterprise essential to a complete education. Contents include: (1) Introduction: Social Theory: Multiple Views; (2) Changes in the Social Context of Art; (3) Changes in Art Education K-20; (4) The Sociology Discipline; (5) Art as Idea; (6) Art as Language; and (7) Art as Form.