Strategic Plan

OUR VISION

Arts Education for Every Child, Every Day, Every School, Every Year

Arts Ed NJ believes that the arts are an essential part of every child’s education, and can be part of the solution to the many challenges currently facing our education system. Our diverse coalition of stakeholders works together to influence state policy and motivate local communities to make quality arts instruction and experiences a part of each child’s education.

In the coming years, the Arts Ed NJ will:

Make the case for the value of arts education for every child at every stage of learning.   Arts Ed NJ will continue to conduct and disseminate research that explores the current state of arts education in New Jersey and highlights the benefits students receive from participation in sequential arts education. We will take a wide view of the arts education ecosystem, believing that all students should experience the arts both as creators and as audience members. Our diverse coalition of involved stakeholders will include state education decision makers, arts educators and their professional associations, artists and arts organizations, local school officials, parents, students, philanthropists, politicians, and business leaders. Working together, we can convince people that the arts are a critical part of every child’s education.

Monitor and influence education policy to ensure that arts education mandates are fulfilled. Working closely with the state Department of Education, we will encourage the adoption of policies that support arts education in a long-term, sustainable way, strengthening the arts’ position in the core curriculum. We will track implementation of arts education policies, ensuring that local districts understand the requirements and providing assistance to help them strengthen their programs. Arts Ed NJ will also continue to advocate for increased resources for arts education.

Become the primary resource for arts education in our state. People who make or influence education decisions at both the state and local levels will know about the Partnership and value what it has to say. Arts Ed NJ will have the capacity to support districts and schools in strengthening their arts education programs, providing mentoring and resources that will enhance arts access and program quality in schools statewide.

Through these efforts, we envision a system that offers quality arts education to every child, every day, in every year of their schooling. We believe that enhanced arts education programs will foster innovation in our state, ensuring that students learn how to harness their own creativity and use it in every area of their lives. And perhaps most importantly, we look forward to a time in which the benefits of arts education are widely accepted by everyone who cares about education in our state.

 

STRATEGIC AREAS OF WORK

To reach our goals we have identified our five strategic areas of work and objectives supporting their success:

1. Demonstrating the value of arts education by conducting and disseminating research.

Increase the positive outcomes in arts education metrics assessed in NJ SMART based on the baseline year for 2012-2013 for high schools. 2013-2014 school year for elementary and middle schools.

Increase the number of arts program opportunities available in schools as documented by NJ SMART, census reporting and direct services.

Steadily increase numbers of people accessing our resources and research, demonstrating that it is valuable and used by the field.

Increase understanding of how arts integration strategies need to be structured in order to be effective for learning.

2. Ensuring that state education policy continues to mandate arts education as an essential part of every child’s education.

Continue to maintain performing and visual arts as required elements in the core curriculum content standards.

Ensure that New Jersey public colleges and universities offer students appropriate credit for the coursework in the arts when considering their high school records.

Successfully advocate for the inclusion of arts coursework in New Jersey college entrance requirements.

Successfully advocate for the inclusion of arts training as part of pre-service training for teachers and administrators.

Increase public funds available for arts education.

3. Strengthening local arts education programs through direct support services for school districts.

Increase the number of school districts that have arts strategic plans and/or arts education components in their district strategic plans, as compared to the results of the most recent Census.

Increase the number of school districts that have Arts Supervisors based on the most recent Census.

Increase the percentage of school districts providing instruction in all four areas of arts education based on information available through NJ SMART.

Increase the number of schools who apply to participate in the revised Model Schools program.

Schools that participate in our direct service initiatives will be able to demonstrate positive changes that have enhanced arts education at their school.

4. Expanding role as the central clearinghouse for all arts education resources and services in NJ.

Lead the development of a reimagined collaborative structure for collective impact on arts education in New Jersey.

Ensure that the model arts curriculum is adopted by school districts as required by the state.

Steadily increase usage of the Arts Ed NJ library of clearinghouse resources.

Develop a consistent message and agenda that arts education advocates agree upon and can use in their work.

5. Communicating the value of arts education to a wide variety of constituencies.

Increase Arts Ed NJ’s visibility in the education community, especially among education leaders, teachers, and parents.

Increase participation in Arts Ed NJ activities and/or arts education advocacy efforts statewide.