CTL to conduct first ever statewide survey on the status of arts education in Kentucky public schools

The survey will be the first of its kind in Kentucky and one of a growing number of similar status studies carried out in states nationwide. The aim of such surveys is to inform planning for arts education program improvements in schools and districts. According to Gerri Combs, executive director of KAC, the survey will “establish a set of baseline data from which will be able to design future arts education programs and partnership efforts aimed at seeing the arts become integral to education in the commonwealth. We need to get an accurate picture of what’s going on in arts instruction in our schools.”

According to the KAC, “It is sometimes difficult to ascertain exactly how to build programs and outreach efforts that are most effective in addressing the needs of schools, teachers and students. One missing element is a clear picture of exactly what is happening in arts education across the commonwealth--how much arts instruction students are currently receiving, who is providing that instruction, how outside resources are utilized, what differences exist between large and small districts, etc.” (July/August, 2005 Blue Moon Newsletter: KAC)

In his May 24 email to district superintendents announcing the survey, Kentucky Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit wrote, “As we move forward on the path of improved schools for all children in the commonwealth, we continue to note a challenge in the area of Arts and Humanities in most of our districts across the state. Student knowledge and skills in the arts continue to lag behind other subjects as evidenced by the CATS assessment results.”

According to Dennis Horn, CTL project director for the survey, “It is clear that schools need assistance with teaching the arts: The CATS test scores alone continue to show this. There are ways that arts and cultural organizations can assist schools, and we hope that this study will shed light on how and where state- and local-level organizations might target their expertise to help schools ensure high levels of learning in the arts for all students.” CTL will submit its final report to the KAC by August 31, 2005.

Partner agencies in the project, include the Kentucky Department of Education, the Kentucky Alliance for Arts Education, Arts Kentucky, the Kentucky Center and Kentucky Educational Television. The partners will use the survey results to see where gaps in services or resources exist in order to build programs and outreach efforts designed to help schools improve or enhance their arts education programs and boost student learning. It is hoped that this survey will be conducted every five years in order to identify trends and adjust their programs and services.

(To view a pdf copy of the Kentucky survey report, see Status of Arts Education in Kentucky Public Schools.)

For more information, contact:
Dennis Horn
v: 502.895.9500 x329