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NYSAAE has conveined a Unified Advocacy Committee, with representatives from each of the organizations involved in the promotion of Arts Education in New York State to devise a set of Unified Talking Points.

In order to provide our children with a well-rounded education, which results in improved motivation and achievement, and prepares students to be thoughtful and engaged citizens of our democracy, statewide Arts educators, administrators and teaching artists request the following:

1. Ensure high quality Arts education (dance, music, theater and visual arts) for all students in New York State.

2. Ensure high quality instruction and leadership in the Arts to promote student engagement and achievement.

• Require that all school educators and administrators have pre-service and funded in-service training to teach them the value of and how to integrate the Arts into their discipline.
  
• Fully staff the NYS Department of Education’s Curriculum, Instruction & Instructional Technology Office – with a specialized Program Associate in each of the four Arts disciplines – including filling the previously approved seat for the Program Associate in Music Education.

3. Ensure every student has access to Arts resources in New York State.

• Provide funding to the New York State Council on the Arts and the NYSED Office of Cultural Education at a level not lower than the approved 2008-2009 budget to ensure that every child in New York State has access to cultural organizations, museums, teaching artists and Arts experiences which enrich and strengthen their education.
  
• Provide essential Arts education resources in schools and in the public arena including funding for NYSCA Arts Education and the NYSED NYS Summer School for the Arts.
  

This message is endorsed by and was developed in partnership by:
The New York State Alliance for Arts Education
The New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA.org)
The New York State Dance Education Association (NYSDEA.org)
The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA.org)
The New York State Theatre Association (NYSTEA.org)
The New York State Media Arts Teachers Association (NYSMATA.org)
Center for Arts Education (caenyc.org)
The New York State Parent Teacher Association (NYSPTA.org)

PRINTABLE VERSION OF THESE TALKING POINTS (PDF)

These talking points are intentionally broad; they are meant to provide a standardized vocabulary that all Arts advocates can employ when discussing the issues.

The following additional groups have endorsed the Unified Advocacy Committees 2009 Talking Points:

The New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education (NYSCAME.org)

Supporting Statements from NYSAAE

A recent national survey administered by Douglas Gould & Company reported that parents, teachers and school administrators believe that arts education is very important but neglected in schools; they believe that an arts education will create well-rounded, analytical thinkers who are better able to succeed (www.keepartsinschools.org).  With that in mind, it is incumbent on advocates of the arts education to ensure that their local communities move toward providing a full education in the arts.

Sequential Education in Four Domains.  We need sequential education in the four arts disciplines required by the State Education Department.  These include, but need not be limited to music, art, dance and theatre, for which there are learning standards and frameworks to guide local school districts throughout the state. 

The Broader Curriculum.  We need curriculum that is infused with arts history, criticism, and participatory arts experiences to enhance learning in English Literature, Math, Science and Social Studies. Often infusion of the arts requires partnerships with local arts and cultural institutions such as museums, performing arts centers, and consortia of teaching artists.  Such partnerships often yield higher levels of performance in academic subjects, as well as more motivated students in pursuit of learning.  Partnerships are encouraged to align with the NYS Standards in all seven areas, and they need to include those instructional practices that promote learning in non-arts and arts content areas.  The Museum and Cultural Education Act is a promising statewide possibility that will have measurable impact on learning in all subjects.

School Partnerships.  We encourage districts and funders, both private and public, to enable schools to augment their instructional programs, allowing them to take advantage of the large number of arts organizations and individual artists that make our state the capital of the arts.

SED Staff for the Arts.  In the last three decades, the number of staff members in the arts at the State Education Department has been reduced from 14 to two staff members.  If staffing is increased, schools can look to at least one person in each of the four areas of the arts standards (art, dance, music and theatre) for critically needed advice and information for implementing the arts standards in all schools.  Advocates need to encourage their legislators, school administrators, parents, teachers and other arts advocates to contact their Regional Regents and encourage them to support additional SED staffing in the arts.  Visit http://www.regents.nysed.gov/members/ to identify your Regent representative. 

Further support materials can be found on the Publications page.

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