Nebraska: Arts Education Standards

The Nebraska Department of Education is developing a new set of standards for arts education in Nebraska schools, thanks to a special grant from the Nebraska Arts Council. The $46,100 award will support discipline-specific writing teams to develop formal student learning standards for dance, media arts, music, theater and visual arts. State chapters of the professional arts education associations will select team captains and members for each discipline. Although Nebraska has had voluntary arts curriculum guidelines in place for many years, this move will formalize standards for arts learning and support the efforts of schools, teachers and arts organizations to provide high-quality arts learning opportunities to all Nebraska students. The standards are expected to be completed by fall 2014. To learn more about this initiative, contact Nebraska Arts Council Director of Programs Marty Skomal.