NAEA Position Statement on Graduation Requirements in the Visual Arts

NAEA supports the formal adoption of high school graduation requirements in visual arts (which includes visual arts, design and media arts) as part of a well-rounded, comprehensive high school education. Study and practice in the visual arts facilitate the growth of a broad range of important skills in general education for career and college success, including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation. The importance of the visual culture to contemporary life makes it imperative that education includes learning to make meaning of multifaceted visual information and experiences.

The visual arts are essential to all high school graduates because:

• the visual arts broaden the range of learning options for meeting the individual needs of diverse student populations.
• students build sustained cultural responsiveness and respect by engaging with artists from diverse backgrounds and under-represented communities.
• learning in the visual arts builds universal communication skills that bridge historic, geographic and cultural boundaries.
• adolescent learners draw upon visual literacy skills to comprehend and articulate their world view as they move into adulthood including post-secondary education and careers.
• learners are actively creating, presenting, responding, and connecting to a wide variety of visual, digital, and media art expanding their global awareness and knowledge
• engaging in the arts, students learn the transferable skills of creativity, collaboration, communication, critical -thinking, problem-solving, and social emotional skills
• they open the career pathway for students in the ever growing creative industry and economy.

High school graduation requirements are predicated on all elementary and middle school students having access to a comprehensive, sequential visual art education program taught by effective educators who are certified/licensed in visual art.

Resources:

Art and Design Occupational Outlook Handbook
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/home.htm

Education Commission of the States
https://reports.ecs.org/comparisons/high-school-graduation-requirements-2023-04