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National Arts Standards Handbook

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DISCIPLINES
PRACTICES
GRADES
INCLUDE
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Dance
Media Arts
Music
Theatre
Visual Arts

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Introduction

Understanding and Using the National Core Arts Standards

The arts have always served as the distinctive vehicle for discovering who we are. Providing ways of thinking as disciplined as science or math and as disparate as philosophy or literature, the arts are used by and have shaped every culture and individual on earth. They continue to infuse our lives on nearly all levels—generating a significant part of the creative and intellectual capital that drives our economy. The arts inform our lives with meaning every time we experience the joy of a well-remembered song, experience the flash of inspiration that comes with immersing ourselves in an artist’s sculpture, enjoying a sublime dance, learning from an exciting animation, or being moved by a captivating play.

The central purposes of education standards are to identify the learning that we want for all of our students and to drive improvement in the system that delivers that learning. Standards, therefore, should embody the key concepts, processes and traditions of study in each subject area, and articulate the aspirations of those invested in our schools—students, teachers, administrators, and the community at large. To realize that end goal, these new, voluntary National Core Arts Standards are framed by artistic literacy, as outlined in philosophical foundations, lifelong goals, and artistic processes; articulated as anchor and performance standards that students should attain; and supported by instructional resources, including model cornerstone assessments that illustrate how literacy might be measured. The connective threads of this conceptual framework are designed to be understood by all stakeholders and, ultimately, to ensure success for both educators and students.

While broad in concept, the standards are also focused in a framework that delivers the educational nuance of standards in only four artistic processes, bringing together what artists do and what we want for our students. Within this simple and elegant structure, decision-makers from teachers, to superintendents, to parents will be able to move forward in the rich variety of approaches that have become part of the American educational landscape.

The National Core Arts Standards are designed to guide the delivery of arts education in the classroom with new ways of thinking, learning, and creating. The standards also inform policy-makers about implementation of arts programs for the traditional and emerging models and structures of education. As with other subject areas, a commitment to quality education, equitable opportunities, and comprehensive expectations is embedded within the new arts standards.

Inclusion Guidelines

Music

The National Core Music Standards are designed to guide music educators as they help their students achieve the goal of independent music literacy. The structure of the standards organizes outcomes by Artistic Process, thereby facilitating sequential instruction while also authentically reflecting the way musicians think and work.

The music standards are organized and presented as follows:

  • All music performance standards are grouped under the Artistic Processes of Creating, Performing, or Responding.
  • Because music connections are an essential part of each Artistic Process, open-ended Connecting outcomes cross-reference users to Creating, Performing, and Responding performance standards.
  • Music performance standards are organized and coded according to the process components or “steps” of the Artistic Processes. The process components for each Process are as follows:
    • Creating: Imagine; Plan and Make; Evaluate and Refine, and Present  
    • Performing: Select; Analyze; Interpret; Rehearse, Evaluate, and Refine; and Present  
    • Responding: Select; Analyze; Interpret; and Evaluate
  • Performance standards are provided for each grade level from Prekindergarten through grade eight.
  • Four distinct “strands” of high school performance standards are provided, reflecting the increasing variety of music courses offered in American secondary schools. 
    • Ensemble, Harmonizing Instrument (guitar, keyboard, etc.), Composition/Theory, and Music Technology performance standards are provided for three levels: Proficient, Accomplished, and Advanced.    
    • Because many students become involved in Ensemble and Harmonizing Instrument classes before they enter high school, performance standards for these strands also include two preparatory levels: Novice (nominally assigned to the fifth grade level) and Intermediate (nominally the eighth-grade level).
  • To clarify the progression of performance standards across grade and high school levels, italic type is used to indicate changes from one grade level to the next.
  • Similarities across the arts disciplines are highlighted in the eleven Common Anchors, which are shared by all five sets of discipline-specific standards. Each Anchor includes one or more process components.
  • The standards are based on the assumption of quality resources, including instructional time, spanning PreK-8 and continuing at the high school level.

Draft Model Cornerstone Assessments provide protocols to help music educators develop measures of student achievement. These assessments will be piloted in a diverse array of classrooms across the United States, refined for use in varied settings, and used to generate student work that will eventually be made available online to illustrate the standards.

Many additional tools are available on this National Coalition for Core Arts Standards web site. More detailed explanations of the organization and implications of the Core Music Standards can be found at http://nafme.org/standards. The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) site will present Opportunity-to-Learn Standards, outlining the resources needed to deliver quality instruction; advocacy resources for explaining standards-based education to decision-makers and the public; and links to available professional development, as well as advice on making the standards a reality in schools across the nation.

Our partner organization is the National Association for Music Education.

Model Cornerstone Assessments:

Additional Resources:

Credits

National Coalition for Core Arts Standards Writing Teams

Project Director: Phillip E. Shepherd, Manager, Academic Core Branch, Kentucky Department of Education

DANCE
Dance Chair: Dr. Rima Faber, President, Capitol Region Educators of Dance Organization and Founding President, National Dance Education Organization
Dr. Barbara Bashaw, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Karen Kohn Bradley, University of Maryland-College Park and the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Loren E. Bucek, Easthaven Elementary School, Columbus, Ohio
Joan Finkelstein, New York City Department of Education
Shana Habel, Los Angeles Unified School District
Mary Harding, Perpich Center for Arts Education, Golden Valley, Minnesota
Susan McGreevy, Executive Director, National Dance Education Organization
Dale Schmid, New Jersey State Department of Education
Marty Sprague, Juanita Sanchez High School, Providence, Rhode Island
Pamela A. VanGilder, Madonna Learning Center, Germantown, Tennessee
Dr. Lynnette Young Overby, University of Delaware, Newark

MEDIA ARTS
Media Arts Chair: Dain Olsen, Los Angeles Unified School District, California
Jay Davis, Community Health Advocates School, Los Angeles, California
R. Scot Hockman, South Carolina Department of Education, Columbia
Jeremy Holien, Perpich Center for Arts Education, Golden Valley, Minnesota
Anne Kornfeld, Newcomers High School, Long Island City, New York
Colleen Macklin, Parsons New School for Design, Brooklyn, New York
Bradley Moss, Maple Mountain High School, Springville, Utah
Betsy Newman, SC Educational Television, Columbia, South Carolina
Michele Nelson, Los Angeles Unified School District
Frank Philip, Arts Assessment Consultant, Annapolis, Maryland
Martin Rayala, Ph.D, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown
James Reinhard, North Allegheny Schools, Wexford, Pennsylvania
Nelle Stokes, Magic Box Productions, Pleasantville, New York
Evan Tobias, Arizona State University, Tempe

MUSIC
Music Co-Chairs: Scott C. Shuler, Arts Education Specialist, Connecticut State Department of Education and Past President, National Association for Music Education
Richard Wells, Simsbury Public Schools (retired) and Music Chair for the Connecticut Common Arts Assessment Project
Dr. Richard Baker, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Bob Cooper, South Kitsap School District, Port Orchard, Washington
Thomas Dean, Mount Pleasant High School, Newark, Delaware
Armalyn De La O, California State University, San Bernardino, Superintendent of Schools Office, San Bernardino, California
Terry Eder, Plano (Texas) Senior High School
Barbara J. Good, Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nevada
Michael Jothen, Towson University, Phoenix, Maryland
Carolynn A. Lindeman, San Francisco (California) State University
Johanna J. Siebert, Webster Schroeder High School, Webster, New York
Robyn Swanson, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green

Music General Music Grades Pre K-2 Sub Committee
Johanna Siebert, Chair
Tim Adams, Center Elementary School, Ellington Public Schools, CT
Julie Beauregard, Oregon State University
Al Heary, Webster Central School District, NY
Denise Ondishko, Riverview Charter School, Beaufort, SC
Jennifer Wetzel-Thomas, Mokena School District #159, Downers Grove IL
Researcher: Wendy Valerio, University of South Carolina

Music General Music Grades 3-5 Sub Committee
Barbara Good, Chair
Nyssa Brown, Perpich Center for Arts Education, MN
Kay Lehto, Gilbert Elementary School, Clark County School District, NV
Sandra Nicolucci, Boston University Music Education Department, MA
Lynn Rechel, Arlington Public Schools, VA
Leah Riggs, Silverdale Elementary School, Central Kitsap School District, WA
Rebecca Squire, Saugatuck Elementary School, Westport School District, CT
Christine Hayes, Chair - Council for General Music Education, Whitewater, WI
Researcher: Denise Odegaard, Fargo, ND

Music General Music Grades 6-8 Sub Committee
Richard Baker, Robyn Swanson, Co-Chairs
Jacalyn Beam, Christina School District, DE
Michelle Divine, Whitman Junior High, Warwick, RI
Debra Hopkins, Lincoln Elementary, Silverton, OR
Stephen Nystrup, Glastonbury Public Schools, CT
Kim Yannon-Stock, Dodd Middle School, Cheshire, CT
Researcher: Ann Clements, Pennsylvania State University

Music Performing Ensembles Sub Committee
Armalyn De La O, Tom Dean, Michael Jothen, Co-Chairs
Renata Bratt, Professional Musician, San Francisco, CA
Sandra Brown, Plymouth Middle School, Plymouth, MN
Terry Eberhardt, Howard County Public Schools, Ellicott City, MD
Windy Fullagar, Alexander Graham Middle School, Charlotte, NC
Alan Gumm, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant
Susie Jones, Mt. Hood Community College, OR
Mary Wagner, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Researcher: Al Holcomb, Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ
Researcher: Glenn Nierman, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Researcher: Bret Smith, Central Washington University
Researcher: Katie Strand, Indiana University
Researcher: Martin Norgaard, Georgia State University, Atlanta

Music Harmonizing Instruments Sub Committee
Bob Cooper, Carolynn Lindeman, Co-Chairs
Carol Broos, Gumee, IL
Anne Fennel, Vista Academy, CA
Julie Gragg, Kingman Middle School, AZ
Philip Martin, Campbell HS, Litchfield, NH
Scott Seifried, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Brad Van Patten, Irvine Unified School District, CA
Karen Childress-Evans, San Diego Unified School District, CA
Ed Duling, Bowling Green, OH
Researcher: William Bauer, University of Florida

Music Composition/Theory Sub Committee
Terry Eder, Tom Dean Co-Chairs
Judd Danby, Jefferson HS, Lafayette, IN
Robert Deemer, SUNY Fredonia, NY
Michael Levi, College of St. Rose, Albany, NY
Frank Doyle, Northport HS, Long Island, NY
Stephen Nystrup, middle school, Glastonbury, CT
Researcher: Patricia Riley, University of Vermont, VT

Music Model Cornerstone Assessments
Bill Bauer, School of Music of the University of Florida
Frederick Burrack, Kansas State University
Ann Clements, The Pennsylvania State University School of Music
Al Holcomb, Westminster Choir College of Rider University, New Jersey
Glenn Nierman, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Denese Odegaard, Fargo (North Dakota) Public Schools
Kelly Parkes, Virginia Tech
Phillip Payne, Kansas State University
Patricia Riley, University of Vermont
Bret Smith, Central Washington University
Katherine Dagmar Strand, Indiana University
Wendy Valerio, University of South Carolina Children’s Music Development Center

THEATRE
Theatre 
Co-Chairs: Dr. Mary J. Schuttler, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley
Betsy Quinn, Evanston (Illinois) School District 65
Rachel Evans, Kean University, Union, New Jersey
Julia Ashworth, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
Victoria Brown, Lucy School, Middletown, Maryland
Wendy Duke, Akron (Ohio) School District
Linda Krakaur, University of Maryland at College Park
Jennifer Little, Franklin High School, North Bergen, New Jersey
Jack Mitchell, California State Department of Education, Sacramento 
Sarah Pleydell, University of Maryland, College Park 
Joshua Streeter, Towanda (Pennsylvania) Area School District 
Leslie Van Leishout, North Thurston Public Schools, Lacey, Washington
Gustave J. Weltsek, Indiana University/Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington
Elisabeth Westphal, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, Illinois
Scott Wilson, Centennial High School, Columbus (Ohio) City Schools
Susan Yelverton, Satchel Ford Elementary, Columbia, South Carolina

VISUAL ARTS
Visual Arts Chair: Dennis Inhulsen, President, National Art Education Association and Principal, Patterson Elementary School, Holly, Michigan
Kristine Alexander, The California Arts Project, California State University, San Bernardino, California
September Buys, Greenville Middle School, Greenville, Michigan
Susan J. Gabbard, Oklahoma City Public Schools, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Dr. Olivia Gude, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Art and Design, Chicago, Illinois
Debra Hannu, Duluth Public Schools, Duluth, Minnesota
Joyce Huser,  Kansas State Department of Education, Topeka, Kansas
Elizabeth (Betsy) Logan, Auburn Junior High School, Auburn, Alabama
Vanessa López, Roland Park Elementary Middle School, Baltimore, Maryland
Cheryl Maney, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Concord, North Carolina
W. Scott Russell, Loudoun County Public Schools, Leesburg, Virginia
Dr. Marilyn Stewart, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Department of Art Education and Crafts, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Kathi R.Levin, NCCAS Project Consultant, National Art Education Association, Reston, Virginia


Visual Arts Model Cornerstone Assessments
Chair, Dr. F. Robert Sabol, NAEA Past President and Professor of Visual and Performing Arts, Purdue University, Crawfordsville, Indiana
Dr. Olivia Gude, Professor, School of Art and Art History, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Debra Hannu, Visual/Media Arts Educator, Duluth Public Schools, Duluth, Minnesota
Joyce Huser, Fine Arts Education Consultant, Kansas Department of Education, Topeka, Kansas
Kirby Meng, Art Educator, Union Grove High School, McDonough, Georgia
Laura Milas, Art Department Chairperson, Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale, Illinois
W. Scott Russell, Elementary Art Educator, Loudoun County Public Schools, Leesburg, Virginia
Dr. Marilyn Stewart, Professor of Art Education, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Diana Woodruff, Director of Visual Arts K-12, Acton Public and Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools, Acton, Massachusetts

National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS) Leadership 2014-2015

Michael Blakeslee, Senior Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, National Association for Music Education
Dr. Jane Bonbright, Founding Executive Director Emeritus, National Dance Education Organization
Richard W. Burrows, NCCAS Media Arts Committee Co-Chair, Newark (New Jersey) Public Schools, Special Assistant/Arts
Amy Charleroy, Director of Arts, Office of Academic Initiatives, The College Board 
David A. Dik, National Executive Director, Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Kristen Engebretsen, Arts Education Program Manager, Americans for the Arts
Marcie Granahan, Executive Director, American Alliance for Theatre and Education
Debora Hansen, State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education, Delaware Department of Education
Dennis Inhulsen, President, National Art Education Association
Dr. Amy Jensen, Advocacy Director, American Alliance for Theatre and Education
Kathi R. Levin, NCCAS Project Consultant, National Art Education Association
Robert Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer, Americans for the Arts
Marcia McCaffrey, President, State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education, New Hampshire Department of Education
Susan McGreevy-Nichols, Executive Director, National Dance Education Organization
James Palmarini, Director of Educational Policy, Educational Theatre Association
Dr. Pam Paulson, NCCAS Media Arts Committee Co-chair, Perpich Center for Arts Education Minnesota
Jeff M. Poulin, Arts Education Program Coordinator, Americans for the Arts
Dr. Deborah B. Reeve, Executive Director, National Art Education Association
Narric Rome, Vice President of Government Affairs and Arts Education, Americans for the Arts
Dr. Nancy Rubino, Senior Director, Office of Academic Initiatives, The College Board
Dr. F. Robert Sabol, Past President, National Art Education Association
Dr. Scott Shuler, Immediate Past President, National Association for Music Education
Lynn Tuttle, Past President, State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education, Arizona Department of Education
Cory Wilkerson, State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education, Project Manager
Julie Woffington, Executive Director, Educational Theatre Association
 

Partnership Organizations

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center Education

National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (2014) National Core Arts Standards. Rights Administered by the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education. Dover, DE, www.nationalartsstandards.org all rights reserved.