NAEA Position Statement on Importance of State or Province Level Agency Directors of Arts Education

NAEA believes certified visual arts educators are best supported when state or province departments of education include dedicated arts positions, especially to strengthen exemplary visual arts programs in public schools. The responsibilities vary among departments and may include developing policy in arts education; maintaining state standards aligned with the national standards; providing professional development for teachers and administrators; fostering collaboration among local, state/province, and national organizations; certifying elementary, secondary, and postsecondary program approval; ensuring accountability; and collecting, interpreting, and/or sharing arts education data. These individuals are key to the facilitation of the development and implementation of national and state standards and professional development needed to guide educators toward quality, standards-based, preK through postsecondary programs. This includes teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education.

This role includes:

• Serving in a leadership position in the state/province department of education;
• Advocating for highly qualified and fully certified arts educators;
• Providing resources and training for arts teachers in meaningful assessment;
• Recommending adequate time for planning, instruction, and evaluation;
• Advocating for community support and funding for such programs;
• Promoting vital professional development for educators; and
• Collaborating with school administrators to support the professional development of teacher leaders in the arts.

While NAEA recognizes that the visual arts share characteristics with other arts disciplines of dance, media arts*, music, and theatre, it stands as its own unique discipline within the arts. Therefore, it is important that the person in this position be knowledgeable in the field of visual arts education and holds a license to teach within at least one of the arts areas.