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It is through sight, sound, movement, and creative play that we first learn about the world.
Throughout life, the arts remain critical to our balanced development as creative, problem-solving members of our communities. Art not only enriches children's lives, it also has a profound impact on their academic achievement.  Research shows students with an education in the Arts outperform others by virtually every measure.  Moreover, learning through the Arts can help "level the playing field" for youngsters from disadvantaged circumstances.

The Michigan Department of Education, Office of Education Improvement and Innovation, works together with partners throughout the state to assure that schools provide all students with ongoing, sequential education in dance, music, theatre and the visual arts.

Contact Information: Mary Head, Interim Art Consultant, headm1@michigan.gov, (517) 335-3442

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What's New?

• Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment (MAEIA) MAEIA established by the MDE to develop several valuable resources and tools for Michigan's elementary and secondary schools. MAEIA will include an Arts Education Instructional Blueprint that will provide a detailed description of a high quality instructional program in the arts based on Michigan's content standards. MAEIA will also include an Audit Tool for districts to use in assessing the quality of their arts education instructional program, and finally, assessment specifications and prototypes that will guide the future development of student assessments in the arts. Development of MAEIA will begin in January 2013 and will call for writers and reviewers; an application can be downloaded at mi-arts.wikispaces.com.

• 21st Century Skills PDF icon

• MMC: VPAA Sample Alignment Tool PDF icon

• Frequently Asked Questions VPAA - Updated 3/12/10 PDF icon

• Michigan Merit Curriculum - Visual, Performing and Applied Arts

• Critical Evidence PDF icon Why is it so important to keep the arts strong in our schools? How does the study of the arts contribute to student achievement and success? These and other important questions are addressed in a new booklet published by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) in collaboration with the Arts Education Partnership (AEP). Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement responds to the needs of policymakers, educators, parents and advocates for fact-based, non-technical language documenting the most current and compelling research on the value of arts learning experiences. Critical Evidence updates and expands on the case made for arts education in NASAA's earlier collaboration with the Arts in Education Partnership, Eloquent Evidence: Arts at the Core of Learning, originally published in 1995. "Ten year's after its release," observes Critical Evidence author Sandra S. Ruppert, "the evidence is even more eloquent, and the need to demonstrate the link between the arts and student achievement has grown more critical." 2006, 20 pages.

• Approved Teacher Preparation Programs


Standards

• MMC VPAA Credit Guidelines PDF icon

• Arts Standards PDF icon


Curriculum and Instruction

• Michigan Merit Curriculum - Visual, Performing and Applied Arts

• National Standards for Arts Education Developed in 1994 by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations


Research and Best Practices

• The Kennedy Center ArtsEdge Teaching Materials

• MDE-ARTSEDNEWS Announcement and Information LISTSERV PDF icon


National Arts Education Associations and Resources

• National Dance Education Organization

• The Nation's Report Card for the Arts The National Asessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in collaboration with the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES)

• Educational Theatre Association

• National Art Education Association

• National Dance Association

• Americans for the Arts

• Arts Education Partnership

• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

• National Endowment for the Arts




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 •  Directory of Schools
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