Research Resources |
| Washington State Research | |
| Arts for Every Student – Arts Education Resources Initiative (2006) This look at the State of Arts Education in Washington State is a "must-read" for all arts advocates! It identifies successful site-based approaches in our schools and districts and the key supports and barriers to their progress as well as Washington principals’ priorities for the arts. The report makes recommendations for improving arts education, identifying next steps for sustained results in arts education. Visit AERI website and Read the Research Report |
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| From Anecdote to Evidence: Assessing the Status and Condition of Arts Education at the State Level (2006) Arts Education Partnership Without solid evidence about the status and condition of arts education in the nation's public schools, it is difficult to make a convincing case for the arts. This research and policy brief draws on the experiences of five states — Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington — as the basis for a discussion of various approaches and methodologies for conducting statewide arts education research. Download the report |
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Washington State School Report Cards |
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Washington State Candidates' Survey |
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National Research |
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| High Quality Music Education Raises Test Scores Students in high-quality school music education programs score higher on standardized tests compared to students in schools with deficient music education programs, according to a study published recently in the Journal for Research in Music Education. This is the first study ever to examine the quality of school music programs as a factor affecting test scores, independent of the socioeconomic level of the school or school district. Posted Sept 2007 |
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| Choices, Changes, and Challenges: Curriculum and Instruction in the NCLB Era, 2007 This report from the Center on Education Policy examines the amount of time spent during the school week on core academic subjects and how that allocation of time across subjects has changed since school year 2001-02 when NCLB was enacted. The report finds that approximately 62% of school districts increased the amount of time spent in elementary schools on English language arts and or math, while 44% of districts cut time on science, social studies, art and music, physical education, lunch or recess. Posted Sept 2007 |
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| CONDITION OF EDUCATION 2007 On May 31, the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released its annual report on the condition of education in the U.S. "The Condition of Education 2007" includes 48 indicators in five major areas -- participation in education, learner outcomes, student effort and educational progress, elementary and secondary education contexts, and postsecondary education contexts -- and a special analysis on high school coursetaking. Regarding the latter, increases in high school credits earned in English, math, and science have not caused a decline in other coursework, partly because students are taking more advanced courses. Comparing 1982 and 2004 data, graduates earned an average of 4.0 versus 4.3 credits in English, 2.7 versus 3.6 credits in math, 2.2 versus 3.2 credits in science, 3.2 versus 3.9 credits in social studies, 1.4 versus 2.1 credits in the arts, and 1.1 versus 2.0 credits in foreign languages. Overall, the average number of credits earned by high school graduates increased from 21.7 to 25.8 credits. Posted Sept 2007 |
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| From Arts Education Partnership (AEP) |
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| Critical Evidence: How the Arts benefit Student Achievement (2006) These studies are further distilled in this “primer” produced with the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. Containing summaries of many key arts education research efforts, it highlights the most current and compelling research on the value of arts learning experiences. Download the pdf |
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| Third Space (2005) Third Space tells the riveting story of the profound changes in the lives of kids, teachers, and parents in ten economically disadvantaged communities across the country that place their bets on the arts as a way to create great schools. The schools become caring communities where kids - many of whom face challenges of poverty, the need to learn English, and to surmount learning difficulties - thrive and succeed and where teachers find new joy and satisfaction in teaching. The book is based on a three-year research study and describes the process of transformation in ten elementary, middle, and high schools serving economically-disadvantaged students in urban and rural areas of the country. See the Toolkit or Order the Book |
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| From Anecdote to Evidence: Assessing the Status and Condition of Arts Education at the State Level (2006) Without solid evidence about the status and condition of arts education in the nation's public schools, it is difficult to make a convincing case for the arts. This research and policy brief draws on the experiences of five states — Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington — as the basis for a discussion of various approaches and methodologies for conducting statewide arts education research. Download the report |
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Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development (2002) |
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| Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons from School Districts That Value the Arts (1999) This is the first national study to look at arts education on the school district level. The study's central finding from the educators who were interviewed is that "the single most critical factor in sustaining arts education in their schools is the active involvement of influential segments of the community in shaping and implementing the policies and programs of the district." It explains that in districts with strong arts education, the community is actively engaged in the arts politics and instructional programs of the district. Download the pdf |
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| Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning (1999) A report that compiles seven major studies that provide new evidence of enhanced learning and achievement when students are involved in a variety of arts experiences. Download the pdf |
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| Learning Partnerships: Improving Learning in Schools with Arts Partners in the Community (1999) Examines what makes an effective and sustainable Arts and Education Partnership, describing such a relationship as a key ingredient in school improvement strategies. Includes the key questions to be addressed in each stage of development of successful arts education partnerships. Download the pdf |
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| From The RAND Corporation |
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| Improving Arts Education Partnerships This research found that joint-venture partnerships can yield many benefits but are less common than simple-transaction partnerships in which schools typically select prepared programs without a needs assessment. Transaction relationships have fewer benefits, but can be improved in many ways. Download the pdf |
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| Gifts of the Muse: Reframing the Debate About the Benefits of the Arts During the past decade, arts advocates have relied on an instrumental approach to the benefits of the arts in arguing for support of the arts. Gifts of the Muse: Reframing the Debate About the Benefits of the Arts, a new report by the Rand Corporation, evaluates these arguments and asserts that a new approach is needed. This new approach offers a more comprehensive view of how the arts create private and public value, underscores the importance of the arts’ intrinsic benefits, and links the creation of benefits to arts involvement. Read the Research Brief |
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| From Project Zero , a research group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education |
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| Lincoln Center Institute Project Curricular Frameworks in Aesthetic Education was an artist-in-residence program designed to expose students to the arts, and to immerse students and teachers in an intensive aesthetic education program. Visit their website |
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| ARTS SURVIVE This was a three year national study investigating why some arts education partnerships between schools and professional artists and/or cultural institutions survive and others do not. It worked to provide a greater understanding of what survival means to arts education partnerships, as well as determining what is essential to build and sustain them. Visit their Website |
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| From The Dana Foundation |
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| Acts of Achievement: The Role of Performing Art Centers in Education This 168-page publication, provides the first study of K-12 education programs offered by performing arts centers nationwide, and showcases 74 performing art center institutions, large and small, partnering with their local schools is available free or you can download the pdf. Learn More |
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| Partnering Arts Education: A Working Model from ArtsConnection This free publication details the importance of classroom teachers and artists forming partnerships as they build successful residencies in schools. Partnering Arts Education provides insight and concrete steps in using the ArtsConnection model. Request a copy |
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| Arts & Cognition: Can Arts Education Truly Improve Other Cognitive Skills? The Dana Foundation is conducting research to determine if a causal relationship between musical training and other skill domains can be documented. This new study will examine whether arts education affects other cognitive processes. Read an early publication about the study |
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