Arts Education Improves, Study Finds

Arts Education Improves, Study Finds

A recent study of New Jersey’s public schools found arts education has improved over the past two decades, but many schools fall short in dance and theater.

The New Jersey Arts Education Census Project, which surveyed more than 2,300 schools, released its findings on Tuesday. The results showed marked improvement from a 1989 survey that gave school arts programs “a barely passing grade.”

Wide Disparities But the survey found wide disparities. While many schools “significantly exceed” government benchmarks for arts instruction, the report also estimates that 75,000 students attend schools with no arts instruction.

The survey found 95% of schools use certified arts teachers, except in theater and dance, where the ratio of certified instructors drops to 59 percent and 44, respectively. The state’s Core Curriculum Content Standards identifies four disciplines—dance, music, theater and visual art—as essential to arts instruction.

Also, 81 percent of schools adopted new arts curriculums aligned with state standards, while 19 percent have not. Outside sources contributed 42 percent of spending on elementary arts.