This document describes Kentucky's comprehensive plan for arts in the elementary and secondary school curriculum. Major objectives of the plan are to incorporate knowledge and appreciation of the arts and to help students develop skills related to art and music at every grade level. The plan was devised to respond to a perceived lack of coordination of arts-related learning experiences in Kentucky schools. This document, which concentrates on the comprehensive plan's rationale and objectives, cautions that the plan is not to be construed as a curriculum guide in the individual arts disciplines nor to replace the need for such guides. It suggests, however, that educators who develop and implement curriculum guides will be aided by the general overview of principles identified in the comprehensive plan as being basic to art and music education. Among the principles designated as particularly important to art and music education are that programs include emphasis on individual art-related disciplines; bring the arts together whenever appropriate; utilize all the arts in the total curriculum; and make use of appropriate learning resources of the school, community, state, and nation. Also suggested for consideration by curriculum developers in the fields of art and music education are several statements of potential arts objectives, including that the arts can expand and broaden sensory link experiences, the arts provide new ways of measuring children's capabilities, the artistic process helps students understand problem solving, and that art activities can help children improve their self-esteem. (DB)