New Jersey is the first state in the nation to include arts education measures as part of the annual School Performance Reports. The Reports, released today by the New Jersey Department of Education, are designed to inform parents, educators and students about how well a school is preparing its students for the future.
"Research shows a strong connection between arts education and success in college and career," said Education Commissioner Chris Cerf. "Arts education is crucial in unleashing the creativity and innovation that are needed to succeed in today's workforce. I'm proud that New Jersey is at the forefront of this effort."
The measures for arts education include the percentage of high school students enrolled in each arts area (Dance, Music, Theater and Visual Art) and the percentage of the total school population enrolled in the arts. Schools and communities will also be able to compare their results to the averages for the entire state.
Click below to read the full article as well as a comment from NJPSA Executive Director Pat Wright under "See What People are Saying"
http://www.artsednj.org/school-performance-report.asp