NAEA Position Statement on Scheduling, Time, Enrollment, Facilities, Funding and/or Resources for Visual Arts Education

NAEA recognizes the need for sufficient funding and equitable scheduling for visual arts programming in preK-12 educational settings. Instructional time and funding for visual arts must allow for student success in meeting national, state and local standards.

Regularly scheduled class periods allow for quality student learning by providing sufficient time for instructing, creating, responding, presenting, connecting and assessing, as well as the routines necessary for a well-organized art class.

Scheduling and Time

• Instructional contact time of visual art educators is equal to but does not exceed the maximum contact time required of all instructional staff.
• Planning and preparation time and additional duties are commensurate with other instructional staff.
• A minimum of five minutes should be scheduled between classes to allow for clean-up and preparation for succeeding classes.

Enrollment

• NAEA recognizes ratios of educators to students differ from state to state and district to district. The quantity of visual arts educators is sufficient to meet quality standards for curriculum, time and scheduling for each grade level. The teaching load for visual art educators is commensurate with that of educators in other disciplines.
• Art class enrollment should be limited to sizes that reflect the capacity of the facility and assure a safe working environment for students and educator. NAEA recommends age-appropriate student class sizes of up to 25 students.
• Art class enrollment and attendance are consistently maintained in order to support sequenced instruction.
• Students should not be removed from art class as punishment, intervention, or for remediation in other subject areas.
• Students who have an aide assist in other classes should be accompanied by their aide to assist in art classes.

Facilities, Funding and Resources

• Art facilities provide adequate, safe and secure storage for equipment, supplies, instructional resources, and student work.
• Supplies, equipment, and technology purchased for the art program are sufficient to meet National and State Standards, achieve local curriculum goals and meet all required safety regulations.
• The budget is sufficient for the art program established in the curriculum plan, includes consumable supplies, instructional resources, new or replacement equipment, repair and maintenance of equipment, and is equitable across the school district.

Resources:

Policies Adopted by the NAEA Board March 2011 NAEA Purposes, Principles, and Standards for School Art Programs (Opportunities to Learn Standards) NAEA Design Standards for School Art Facilities