Changes in Arts Programs in Public Schools in the Past 5 Years

As this report has shown, various aspects of schools' arts programs can be used as indicators of a commitment to arts education on the part of both schools and school districts. For example, at the elementary level instruction time and the number of arts specialists on staff reflect an effort to provide quality arts instruction. At the secondary level, the number of courses offered provides similar information. In addition, the allocation of supplies and materials for arts education, the provision of funds for teachers' classroom use, and the allocation of funds for field trips to museums, galleries, or performance centers are indicative of the extent to which school districts are providing financial support to enhance their arts programs. Respondents to both surveys were asked to report on changes in each of these aspects of their arts programs as compared to 5 years ago. They were also asked to indicate if the student enrollment in the school's arts program had changed in order to provide a benchmark of whether changes in any of these variables coincided with changes in the number of students being served.

Many public elementary schools (49 to 66 percent) reported that these indicators had remained the same in the past 5 years (Table 13). In addition, between 20 and 30 percent reported increases in instruction time, number of arts staff, allocation of supplies and materials, funds for teachers' classroom use, and use of museums, galleries, and performance centers. However, 41 percent also reported increases in enrollment. No more than 18 percent of elementary schools indicated decreases in any of the areas listed.

While enrollment in arts courses has increased in the past 5 years in 62 percent of public secondary schools, only 28 percent of schools reported an increase in the school's arts staff, 61 percent reported that the number of arts staff had remained the same. Even though about half of schools also reported an increase in the number of courses offered, 39 percent reported that the number of courses had remained the same. As with elementary schools, less than 20 percent of schools indicated decreases in any of the areas listed.

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