Exemplars

Lacking

Meets

Exceeds

Comments

1

Visual art is integrated into the curriculum throughout the day. The program actively engages art with other instructional areas.

2

The children's learning experiences include making art, looking at art, learning about art and artists, and responding to art.

3

At least 15% of the contact time with children in every prekindergarten and kindergarten is devoted to experiences with visual arts.

4

Regularly scheduled class periods planned for art production must provide a minimum of 100 minutes of uninterrupted instructional time per week for instruction, motivation, distribution of materials, production, clean-up, and evaluation.

5

A locally developed curriculum has been developed or revised recently. The document includes

a. agreed-upon philosophy and goals and the learnings to be expected at each level

b. a sequential listing of learning experiences derived from art inquiry and expression

c. agreed-upon philosophy and goals and the learnings to be expected at each level

d. lists of materials, equipment, time, space, and personnel necessary to carry out the planned learning experiences

e. statements of health and safety precautions and regulations established by district and school policy

f. the relation of studies in art to other areas of instruction.

6

All art teachers and appropriate school personnel share in curriculum planning, evaluation, and revision.

7

Art curriculum documents are appropriately distributed. Art curriculum documents are provided to each teacher, administrator, guidance counselor, and media center personnel.

8

Evidence of current art instruction is displayed in the classrooms.

9

The art program is visually evident throughout the school.

10

Educational criteria govern participation in posters, decorations, contests, and award programs.

Exemplars

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Comments

1

Visual arts instruction in every prekindergarten and kindergarten is provided by teachers who have received formal training in early-childhood visual arts.

2

A visual arts specialist qualified in early-childhood education is available as a consultant.

3

Teacher preparation meets the criteria stated in the booklet, Standards for Art Teacher Preparation Programs, published by the National Art Education Association.

4

Art teacher employment and/or selection includes the presentation of a portfolio, representing ability in art and the teaching of art, along with interviews by certified art personnel.

5

The teacher-pupil ratio in visual arts is no greater than 1:400.

6

In order that every student may have access to a teacher whose knowledge is current and whose teaching embodies the best current practices, every school or school district provides and supports annual professional development opportunities equal to other teachers in the school or school district.

7

When the teaching staff of the school district includes five or more art teachers, one is appointed and compensated for leadership responsibilities.

8

A full-time art supervisor is appointed when the art teaching staff in the school district includes 50 or more teachers and additional administrative assistance increases proportionately with a staff larger than 50.

9

Art teachers assigned to leadership responsibilities are experienced at the assigned grade levels and capable in curriculum development and in the development of administrative and community support of art education.

10

A full-time art supervisor at any grade level holds a masters degree in art education or its equivalent; has specialized preparation in supervision; has a minimum of 5 years of teaching experience including both the elementary and secondary levels; and is a member of the state and national professional art education organizations.

11

In-service education and/or professional development programs assist art personnel in becoming acquainted with community artists; resource people; and local art agencies, associations, and institutions.

12

Teachers' aides, paraprofessionals, "artists-in-education," and visitors who participate in the art program do so under the planned and organized direction of the art teacher(s) and/or supervisor.

Exemplars

Lacking

Meets

Exceeds

Comments

1

Materials and equipment are sufficient to implement the art program established in the curriculum document, including safety precautions and regulations established by district policy.

2

Consumable and non consumable art materials, tools, resources, and equipment are listed and available to the art teacher.

3

Audiovisual equipment, visuals, and print media are available.

4

Furniture, materials, and equipment are planned and budgeted for each art teacher and/or art room.

5

The district provides an annual budget for the repair and maintenance of tools, furniture, and equipment.

6

Whatever the organization of purchasing supplies, the art staff of the school district controls the specification of standards for art materials, equipment, and resources.

7

If found materials are used, the educational purpose in art, not the mere availability of inexpensive material, governs the learning activity.

8

Itinerant teachers are equipped for convenient transport of the necessary quantity and variety of materials.

9

A media or learning resource center contains a variety of art books, reproductions, films, filmstrips, transparencies, and self-instructional materials to support the art curriculum.

10

In classes emphasizing independent study and/or individualized instruction, sufficient materials and equipment are provided for at least two independent work areas.

11

The school district art curriculum guide specifies equipment for art instruction such as kilns, paper cutters, projection equipment, special spotlights, and the like.

12

The school provides, at each grade level, district-adopted print or projectible image series, such as slides, filmstrips, and overheads. Accompanying teacher manuals and teaching materials also are provided.

13

13. The district curriculum document specifies the minimum quantity of materials and equipment needed to teach each class or course. Included in this list are basic tools and supplies for sculpture, printmaking, drawing and painting, textile/fiber design, and ceramics.

14

The school district specifies within policy the minimum funding per course required for art instruction.

15

The school provides curriculum resources such as films, slides, original art, art reference books, projectors, cameras, television, art periodicals, exhibitions, and three-dimensional reproductions.

16

The school provides, where appropriate, a current text series, print series, or slide series for each classroom where art is taught, with a copy of the text for each student. Accompanying teaching materials and teacher's manuals are also provided.

17

The school district develops and uses a separate budget for the art program.

18

The art budget is sufficient to provide all expenditures required for the art program established in the curriculum plan.

19

Grant proposals for art programs and staff are available and encouraged.

Exemplars

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Exceeds

Comments

1

Facilities comply with local and state building codes and safety requirements.

2

The art staff participates in the planning, budget, and design decisions of art facilities.

3

Schools with enrollments of 500 or more provide one or more specialized art rooms.

4

The art room is accessible to all students, including those with physical disabilities.

5

The art room layout allows for ease of traffic flow and safety.

6

Adequate instructional furniture is provided.

7

General lighting is planned so that shadows are reduced to a minimum. The capability exists for showing slides, films, or videos during the day or evening. Where possible, art room facilities are designed so that large, northern-facing windows allow for an abundance of natural lighting.

8

Ventilation is adequate to exhaust any fumes, dust, or odors. Special areas (kiln, etc.) are equipped with adequate ventilation.

9

Sinks are accessible from several sides and are an appropriate height for grade levels and wheelchairs. Sinks are equipped with hot and cold water with sediment traps. Acid-resistant, heavy-duty drains with clay or plaster traps are provided.

10

The facility is flexible enough to accommodate student discussions, group work, slide viewing, the study of reproductions, and computers as well as production space for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork. The art room facilitates extensive use of audio/visual equipment, VCRs, computers, and the like.

11

Adequate space (55 square feet per student), including storage, display, and a range of equipment is provided. Adequate securable space is provided for storing hazardous equipment and supplies. Adequate teacher office and work stations are provided.

12

An entrance door larger than usual allows for installation of bulky art equipment.

13

The art room is acoustically treated to minimize interferences.

14

Electrical outlets are plentiful and conveniently located throughout the art room.

15

Display areas are central to the general flow of traffic.

Exemplars

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Meets

Exceeds

Comments

1

Art instructional activities are directed toward achieving the national voluntary art content and achievement standards.

2

a. The curriculum comprises a balanced and sequential program of making art, looking at art, learning about art and artists, and responding to art.

b. Also included are learning experiences designed to develop the ability to use the materials, techniques, and terminology of art; analyze and describe art; make informed evaluations concerning art; and understand art and art practices in relation to history and culture and to other disciplines in the curriculum.

3

The visual art curriculum is described and outlined in a series of sequential and articulated curriculum guides for each grade level.

4

a. Every student receives visual art instruction from a certified art specialist each week for at least 100 minutes.

b. Visual art content and skills are woven into the classroom teacher's curriculum throughout the school day.

5

Classes in visual art are no larger than classes in other subjects of the curriculum.

6

Exhibits of student artwork are planned each year for parents, peers, and the community.

7

Artists, galleries, and museums of the community are utilized, when available, to enhance and strengthen the school visual arts curriculum.

8

When students with disabilities are included in regular visual art classes:

a. their placement is determined on the same basis as placement for students without disabilities (e.g., visual art achievement, chronological age)

c. their placement does not result in classes that exceed the average class size for the school by more than 10%

d. the number of these students does not exceed the average for other classes in the school by more than 10%.

9

a. Visual arts instruction is provided for students receiving special education who are not included in regular visual arts classes.

b. Visual arts instruction for students with disabilities is designed to teach practical visual arts skills and knowledge that will assist the students in functioning successfully in the artistic environments of the home, school, and community.

c. The amount of time for visual arts instruction is equivalent to that provided to students without disabilities.

10

Students with disabilities are given the same opportunities to elect specialized visual arts instruction as other students. If a visual art task cannot be performed by students with disabilities exactly as it would be by students without disabilities, adaptation is provided so that students with disabilities can participate insofar as possible.

11

11. Special experiences are designed for gifted and talented students according to their abilities and interests.

Exemplars

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Comments

1

a. Visual art is taught by art specialists in collaboration with classroom teachers.

b. Leadership, guidance, and visual art expertise are provided by specialists who possess the skills and knowledge to teach the structure of visual arts; the skills, knowledge, and techniques of the visual arts for appropriate age levels; and creative problem solving in visual arts.

c. Their efforts are complemented by classroom teachers who have the unique opportunity to make visual arts part of the daily life of the students and to integrate visual arts into the total curriculum.

2

The number of certified art specialists is sufficient to provide art experiences for a total of at least 100 minutes per week per class, throughout the school year, for grades 2 through 6.

3

All visual arts educators are certified to teach art, have extensive specialized knowledge and training,, and are fully qualified for their instructional assignments in visual arts.

4

The teacher-pupil ratio in visual arts is no greater than 1:400.

5

a. Every visual arts educator has a block of time of at least 45 minutes for preparation and evaluation each day, excluding time for lunch and time for travel from room to room and building to building.

b. Sufficient time for travel is calculated in the teaching loads of teachers required to move from one building to another.

6

6. a. Every school district or school provides a regular program of in-service education that includes at least two to five paid days for professional development activities arranged by the district or school each year for every visual arts educator.

b. Every visual arts educator is permitted at least two paid days of leave each year for professional development activities proposed by the teacher and approved by the district or school.

7

a. Special-education classes in visual arts are no larger than other special-education classes.

b. Teacher aides are provided for special-education classes in visual arts if they are provided for other special-education classes. If a student with a disability has an aide to assist in other classes, the aide also assists the student in visual arts classes.

8

Every visual arts educator working with special-education students has received training in special education and, for purposes of consultation, has convenient access to trained professionals in special education or art therapy.

9

a. One visual arts educator in every district or school is designated as coordinator or administrator to provide leadership for the visual arts program.

b. This person is employed on a full-time basis for administration when the staff includes 25 or more visual arts educators.

c. The amount of administrative time is adjusted proportionately when the staff is smaller. Additional administrative staff is employed at a rate of one-fifth time for each additional 5 teachers above 25.

10