Visual and Performing Arts

West Virginia Cohort Study

The Office of Research has just completed a study of a cohort of students who began 9th grade in the 2006-2007 school year, correlating enrollment in high school arts courses with student achievement on Westest II and ACT Plan. Confirming previous studies of the arts and student achievement, the study found that students who enrolled in more arts courses outperformed their peers in these indicators.  You may find a a one-page summary of the research study here.  The complete report can be found here.

Guidance for Building a Program

Working with exemplary West Virginia arts teachers, the West Virginia Department of Education has prepared a guidance document intended to help guide schools and districts in providing rich arts experiences for their students.  You may view the document here: "Building a Comprehensive Arts Program."

In addition, there have been some supporting documents prepared specifically for secondary instrumental ensemble teachers.  These have been specifically prepared to help novice band and orchestra teachers select quality repertoire for their programs:

Recommended Repertoire - Band

Recommended Repertoire - Orchestra

The document goes far beyond the minimum requirements of policy and describes arts programs best suited to serve student needs.  Please feel free to use and share this document with others as we work toward our aspiration of "Good kids doing great work!"

SEADAE White Paper

The State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) has published a white paper entitled "Roles of Certified Arts Educators, Certified Non-Arts Educators,& Providers of Supplemental Arts Instruction."  The paper was written to provide guidance to schools on the unique roles of these three groups in providing sequential, standards-based arts education as part of the core curriculum.  As outlined in the WVDE's own "Building a Comprehensive Arts Program," these three groups are essential in a true arts education.

Arts educators and administrators are encouraged to use this document to guide decision-making in school arts programs.

 

Art and Music in West Virginia Elementary Schools  - 2011 Report

In 2011, the WVDE Office of Instruction completed a report with recommendations to the state superintendent about the quality of instruction in art and music at the elementary level.  Specifically, the report addresses:

  • Who is teaching art and music at the elementary level
  • The professional preparation of classroom teachers ("generalists") who teach art and/or music
  • The number of minutes allotted for instruction in each subject

Click here to view the report. You may click here to view the accompanying tables.

 

Arts Content Standards and Objectives

West Virginia’s revised and adopted dance, music, theatre and visual art content standards and objectives (CSOs) and performance descriptors are available in an interactive format posted online. The interactive CSOs for all content areas are available at this link: http://wveis.k12.wv.us/Teach21/public/cso/cso.cfm. 

 

Arts Educator LISTSERV

You can stay informed about the latest information regarding the arts from the West Virginia Department of Education by subscribing to the Arts Educator LISTSERV.  Simply send the message SUBSCRIBE K12-ARTEDUCATORS to LISTSERV@listserv.wvnet.edu .

 

Instructional guides for dance, music, theatre and visual art were completed by March 2008 and are posted on the Teach 21 website at this link:  http://wvde.state.wv.us/instructionalguides/ .  Among these instructional guides are several interdisciplinary examples. 

 

Project Based Learning plans for dance, music, theatre and visual art are also posted on the Teach 21 website and can be searched here: http://wvde.state.wv.us/teach21/pbl.html . 

 

ARTS ALIVE!

The Arts Alive! program has, for the past six years,  provided a high profile venue for arts education advocacy by … (1) showcasing successful arts programs in West Virginia schools; and by (2) educating audiences of teachers, school administrators, policymakers, leaders, philanthropists, and members of the general public as to how the 21st skills are taught in dance, music, theatre and visual art classes.  Through exposing audience members to the best of our arts programs,  Arts Alive! has set a high standard  for our schools.  

 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

John A. Deskins, Arts Coordinator
Office of Instruction
West Virginia  Dept. of Education
Building 6, Room 608
1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
email: jdeskins@access.k12.wv.us
phone: 304-558-5325, ext. 53231
fax: 304-558-1834