The Status of Arts Education in Ohio's Public ... - Ohio Arts Council

FOREWORD
The Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (OAAE), the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) and the Ohio
Department of Education (ODE) are pleased to present The Status of Arts Education in Ohio’s
Public Schools.
This report builds on Ohio’s continued interest in the strength of arts learning and its role in
school academic programs. It provides baseline data for anyone seeking a “big picture”
understanding of what the level of support for high-quality arts education has been among
Ohio’s public schools and districts, how available resources are being used, and where
additional resources and efforts may be needed. It addresses key elements of Ohio’s arts
education infrastructure, particularly people, resources and policies at the local level that affect
delivery of arts instruction and allocation of resources to arts education. Anyone who makes
decisions that could affect K-12 students’ access to arts education and their continued progress in
learning in, about and through the arts should read this report. That includes teachers—those who
provide arts instruction and their colleagues who work with them to improve educational quality.
It includes individuals and organizations that advocate for access and quality in arts education,
support the arts, conduct educational research and provide staff development to schools. Finally,
it includes those who shape policy and legislation, fund programs and lead initiatives.
New Jersey-based Quadrant Arts Education Research (Quadrant)—a national leader in arts
education research, analysis and market intelligence—led the data collection and analysis.
Leaders from the OAAE, OAC and ODE discussed the results at length and worked as a team
to guide the development of this report.
Quadrant began the study in January 2010 by analyzing
ODE data on all Ohio public schools to reveal common
characteristics and differences across the landscape of arts
education in Ohio. Quadrant analyzed ODE data on 3,327
schools, including 2,969 traditional public schools in 612
school districts and 246 community schools.
The second phase was the online Status Survey, which was
open to all of Ohio’s public schools from April through
August 2010. Sixteen percent of Ohio’s public schools—
542 schools serving approximately 295,000 of Ohio’s 1.8
million students—responded to the Status Survey.
Traditional public schools
are part of local school
systems that are governed
by local boards of
education.
Community schools in
Ohio are publicly funded
and publicly accountable
schools run by nonprofit
educational organizations.
Also known as “public
charter schools,” community
schools are authorized
under ORC §3314.
This report presents findings based on analysis of both the ODE data and the responses to the
Status Survey. The two data sources told the same general story. Responses to the survey
added more depth to some of the ODE data and produced additional information about arts
education programs in Ohio’s public schools. (Additional details on methodology appear on
page 66.)
Status of Arts Education in Ohio’s Public Schools 1