Close to half of city elementary schools do not meet state standards for arts instruction, even as the number of certified arts teachers in the schools has grown, according to the 2010-11 fifth annual Arts in the Schools Report released just before the holidays.

The Center for Arts Education praised the Education Department's efforts, but cautioned, "Budgeting by schools for arts services, such as those to hire arts and cultural partners to deliver arts education instruction and programs, declined 27 percent last year to less than $13 million citywide. Budgeting for arts supplies and instruments has declined by almost 10 percent to just over $2 million, or less than $2 on average for every student in the system. These decreases come on top of steep declines that have occurred since the 2006-2007 school year, when the city made the decision to eliminate the dedicated funding line for arts instruction."

The Center points out that 46% of elementary schools do not meet the state standards in the arts. (There are no such comparable statistics for middle and high schools.) 

State standards mandate that art is part of a school's curriculum, beginning with pre-kindergarten. First through 3rd graders are supposed to spend 20% of their weekly school time, or 168 hours per year, learning dance, music, visual arts or theater. That time decreases to 10% of school time, or 93 hours, for 4th through 6th graders. Seventh and 8th graders must spend a semester on visual arts and one on music. In high school, students are supposed to take a semester of dance, music or theater and another of visual arts.

Even though the number of arts teachers has increased, so has the number of schools, and there are nowhere near the number of art teachers needed to staff them.

Since 2007, the DOE has proclaimed its commitment to the arts, tracking data to measure how the arts are included in schools, looking at budgets, teachers, programs, and partnerships. The subject now appears on the school progress reports and the DOE has developed pilot performance assessments in visual arts, music, dance, and theater for students in 5th grade, 8th grade and high school. The most recent report shows that 88% of schools have partnerships with arts education organizations and that there is an increase (although small) in the number of certified arts teachers in the schools.

As observers of schools programs all over the city, the Insideschools staff has seen some very impressive arts programs, but also noted the instability of the arts: continuity depends on budget and circumstance. Some schools see a revolving door of partnerships – only a few classrooms get the music program, for instance, and next year it's gone! Some schools rely on parent fundraising to support arts programs. In other schools, parents can't afford such a big expense.

Schools are always experimenting with new ways to incorporate the arts, probably a characteristic of the arts themselves.

In these times of tight budgets, should schools make arts education a priority? How often does your child have art, music, theater or dance class?

Take our poll and let us know.