The National Council of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) approved Arts Ed NJ as an NFHS affiliate member during its Winter Meeting earlier this month, which was held virtually due to the pandemic. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), an athletics-only association, is the NFHS voting member in New Jersey.
The board of directors for the National Federation for State High School Associations approved Arts Ed NJ’s application to be designated as the NFHS performing arts affiliate for New Jersey. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) is the athletics affiliate for the state.
The designation allows Arts Ed NJ to provide more support and resources for performing arts activities, including extracurricular and after school programs, and to advocate on their behalf at the state level and representation at the national level.
Arts Ed NJ has been collaborating with the NFHS since April of 2020, working closely on policies, research, and publications to support performing arts during the pandemic, including support for the International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study at the University of Colorado and University of Maryland. The affiliation inspired the creation of the inaugural New Jersey State Solo and Ensemble Contest. Additional collaborative initiatives with other NJ based arts education organizations, including coordinated speech and debate, theatre, and educator recognition programs, will be announced in the coming months for the 2021/2022 school year.
“The NFHS is very excited to welcome Arts Ed NJ to the National Federation of State High School Associations,” stated Dr. James Weaver, Director of Performing Arts and Sports at the NFHS. “Arts Ed NJ and their leadership has been instrumental on the national level as we navigated the impacts of the global pandemic. The strength of the NFHS comes from its member associations that work together on a national scale to problem solve and tackle the big issues facing performing arts. Arts Ed NJ is a great addition to the NFHS and we look forward to working together.”
About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,500 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.9 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.
