In a national climate of high-stakes testing, there is an ever-increasing need for policy that ensures high-quality arts education for all children. At the same time that arts education in K-12 schools is being diminished or eliminated, there is an ever-increasing body of research linking participation in the arts to various aspects of cognitive…

Focuses on identifying ways in which policy has affected arts education, specifically those that have evolved outside of arts education instead of within. Explores topics such as: the influence of national and state standards, the impact of testing, and the absence of teachers competent to teach the arts. (CMK)

Focuses on policy issues that have affected arts education in the twentieth century, such as: interest in discipline-based arts education, influence of national arts associations, and national standards and coordinated assessment. States that whether the policy decisions are viewed as achievements or disasters are for future determination. (CMK)

Focuses on various topics related to arts education policy such as the creation of the national arts standards, the influence of racism on policy decisions, the importance for equal access to education at all educational levels, and the work of Howard Gardner on multiple intelligences that helped legitimize the arts. (CMK)

Explores arts education policy throughout the twentieth century focusing on topics such as the rapid development of music education in the early part of the century, training music teachers due to this growth, and the state of music education between the 1960s and the 1990s. (CMK)

States that policies are needed that can guide the teacher education programs in music education. Explores the state of music education and teacher education within the twentieth century. Believes that a coherent definition of music education with implications for teacher education is needed. (CMK)

Explores arts education policies focusing on achievements, such as the inclusion of music and visual arts in schools, development of the arts education standards; and the failures, such as the inability of the arts to overcome the perception of being a frill. (CMK)

Discusses the current state of arts education that is characterized by lack of cultural education, the integration of arts into instruction by classroom teachers, and the bad bargains schools have made to get the arts back. Explores the option of out-of-school arts programs and opening the doors to opportunities in the arts. (CMK)

Believes that the concepts of the arts have contributed to the difficulty in rationalizing the arts as a civic investment and educational issue. States that during the twentieth century the distance between the public and the arts has grown. (CMK)

Explores three lessons that can be learned about arts education during the twentieth century: (1) the decentralization of education in the United States; (2) developing student competence in performing and creating art; and (3) the importance of quality above quantity. (CMK)

Describes the Transforming Education through the Arts Challenge (TETAC) initiative. Discusses issues to be addressed if change in arts education is to be achieved, specifically teacher preparation, professional development, networking, and standards and accountability. (CMK)

Describes two approaches to educational change: (1) the linear, input-output model that focuses on the output of academic achievement measured by standardized tests; and (2) the ecological model that focuses on the school as an ecosystem composed of classroom ecosystems. Discusses four reasons why the arts are necessary for the renewal of schools.…

Discusses the development of the concept arts education. Provides an example of an exemplary district wide arts education program in a Vancouver (Washington) school district as a context for comments on factors regarding districtwide implementation in other school districts. Addresses what constitutes a districtwide arts education program. (CMK)

Reflects on the balancing act among the methodological, practical, and political forces in the arts that affect evaluation, focusing on evaluations of systemic reform. Discusses the meaning of systemic reform and the special requirements added when the arts are the main force behind the education changes. Offers an illustration. (CMK)

Examines contexts for arts education policy in African countries. Introduces the articles in the symposium on "Arts Education Policy in Africa" in this issue of Art Education Policy Review. Addresses policies for research and dissemination, the nature and roles of the arts, and art in the schools. (CMK)