Art Education in Pennsylvania and the effects of PSSA Testing and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Initiatives

What is happening around the state?

• Changes are being made to established art education programs.
• Elimination or curtailment of existing programs.
• Retiring teachers not being replaced.
• Teaching assignments being changed (ie: full time to half time, art teachers being assigned other "teaching" duties.)
• State Board of Education reviewing non-tested curricula and moving them to a place of less importance or prominence.
• Administrators making "panicked" decisions to improve test scores and assessments that deal only with language arts and mathematics failing to see whole child education.
• Ignorance of the legislation.

What can you do? Advocate - Communicate - Initiate Action

• Have dialogue with YOUR State Representatives, Governor, members of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Federal Legislators. Write to them. Call them. Send e-mail to them. Follow up with further correspondence. Encourage colleagues, parents, and students to have dialogue with these individuals.
• Develop partnerships within your community with other arts focused groups and organizations. Attend meetings and become active in their groups. Educate the members about quality art education and the impact it has on student learning.
• Advocate within your school and school district. Educate your colleagues on your program. Keep your program visible and viable in the whole school curriculum. Invite teachers, administrators, parents, and community members into your art room to see your program in action. Invite people to "volunteer" in your room assisting with aspects of your program.
• Join school committees that make decisions about PSSA and NCLB issues. Be an active member of these committees in educating colleagues about how the visual arts make a difference in student learning and scores. It is not good enough to be represented by the music or physical education teacher, represent yourself. You do that best!
• Sign onto the PAEA list serve to become part of an interactive communication tool. Go to www.paea.org and sign on…..and be an active participant.
• Participate in regional activities, divisional activities, and other PAEA programs.? Attend the 2003 PAEA Conference "No Art Left Behind" scheduled for the Harrisburg Marriott Hotel October 23-25, 2003.
• Align your teaching and curriculum to the State and National visual art standards.? Develop partnerships within your school, in the community, in your region, and within the state. School district's are less likely to dismantle or eliminate programs if it holds value to student learning, if the parents and community are actively involved in it, and if members of the school district have invested time, resources.
• Start a Pennsylvania Art Club, National Junior Art Honor Society, or National Art Honor Society in your school. Involve students, parents and relatives in the activities of these groups.
• Communicate local issues to your representative on the PAEA Board of Directors. Communicate with art teachers within your district, county, and region.
• Stay aware, alert, and active beyond your classroom door.

Tom Kelchner