This booklet examines the components of aesthetic education, reviews some of the current school programs in the arts, and points out some of the needs for improving aesthetic education in the schools. The purpose of aesthetic education is to help students experience the joy of beauty. To develop a program of aesthetic education, the stages of aesthetic development that a person goes through must be taken into consideration. Although individuals of the same age may be at different stages of development, all experience three facets of aesthetic awareness. They are performer, appreciator, and critic. These three stages provide a framework for developing a program of aesthetic education, no matter what the subject area the learner is studying. Through the work of various funding agencies, both public and private, many programs are now having an impact on the arts in the schools. For example, CEMREL, one of the regional educational laboratories located in St. Louis, has contributed a long-range curriculum development program for the arts in the elementary grades. The Utica School District in New York has instituted a pilot project called SEARCH in which film makers and poets worked both as artists in residence and as learning resources to teachers. If schools are to contribute to improving the quality of life of students, more attention must be given to the preparation of teachers in aesthetic education. (Author/RM)