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November 4, 2005

In an Era of Accountability … You Have to Count!

How many schools in New Jersey have arts education programs? More importantly, how many do not? How many children across the state are involved with our arts education programs? How many children do not have access to arts education at all? The answer is… we do not know!

But, we will! These and many other compelling questions will be answered as a result of the upcoming New Jersey Visual and Performing Arts Survey, part of the New Jersey Arts Education Census Project.

New Jersey Arts Education Census Project (NJAECP) is a partnership of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the NJ Department of Education, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey and the Music for All Foundation. The New Jersey Arts Education Census Project will create a 360-degree view of arts education in New Jersey schools.

The initiative encompasses five objectives that include: implementing a statewide survey on the current status of arts education in New Jersey public primary and secondary schools; connecting the survey results with additional demographic information; creating a New Jersey Arts Education Research Center; developing a national model that will link data; and creating a process to annually update the data.

The research will quantify student enrollment in arts education programs for each school, establish spending patterns over time for arts education, providing a basis for analyses of growth and decline of enrollment relative to other school programs. In addition, economic, demographic, census, school report card and growth forecasts will all be linked together to provide context regarding additional factors that impact access to arts education in a community. The final results will be housed in the New Jersey Arts Education Research and Information Center, which will be hosted on the web.

Of particular interest is the New Jersey Visual and Performing Arts Survey - a statewide school-by-school mandatory survey for the visual and performing arts. The field test of the New Jersey Visual and Performing Arts Survey has been completed and evaluated and preparations for the mandatory state-wide survey in January 2006 have already begun.

Here is how you can help:

Each NJ public school (not district) will be asked to provide information regarding the types of arts courses provided, student enrollment in each course, the number and qualifications of teachers, curriculum, etc. We are asking each of you to help gather the information for your principal so we can have the most complete and accurate data possible. You assistance will be a great help to your principal and to this project as well.

A review of the survey tool will guide you to the type of information requested in the survey. A letter to all of the principals from Commissioner of Education will arrive at your school this Winter to provide each school with a “heads up” regarding the upcoming survey and to begin the information gathering process.

By working together we will ensure we have quality information to inform all of our work so we may create an educational system in New Jersey that truly provides an arts education … for all!

Ongoing updates to the project including the current draft of the New Jersey Visual and Performing Arts Survey may be accessed by going to: http://www.music-for-all.org/NJAEC/

For additional information contact:

Bob Morrison
Music for All Foundation
(908) 542-9396

Robin Middleman
NJ State Council on the Arts
(609) 984-6130

Dale Schmid
NJ Department of Education
(609)984-6308

Posted by musicforall at 2:57 PM