Free to download and share with your school community, district team, and partners.
Introducing the Inclusion Guide for Arts Education
Arts Ed NJ, in partnership with All In for Inclusive Education and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, has released the Inclusion Guide for Arts Education — a new statewide resource designed to help ensure that students with disabilities are fully included in arts education. The guide grew out of conversations with families and educators across New Jersey, including stories of students with IEPs being pulled from arts classes for services or support, alongside accounts of the profound impact arts experiences had on students' learning, confidence, communication, belonging, and success in school.
Built around asset-based systems and structures, illustrative examples, and key guiding questions, the guide offers a broad framework that districts of any size or context can adapt for coordinated, purposeful efforts centered on inclusivity, student well-being, and shared responsibility for all students. A student's disability or need for services should not become a barrier to participating in arts education — the guide is both a resource and a starting point for deeper conversations among families, educators, school leaders, and other partners.
A Perspective that Inspired this Work
“This guide helps create a shared understanding of what students are entitled to and how schools and families can work together to ensure every child has access to the connection, belonging, and opportunity that arts education provides. Every child should have the chance to shine.”
Colleen Schulz-Eskow, Parent
Information Sessions
Learn what's inside and what you can do next
Introducing the Inclusion Guide for Arts Education
November 12th - 3:00–4:00 PM and 5:30–6:30 PM - Open to all
Every student deserves meaningful access to high-quality arts education. The new Guide can help school communities make that vision a reality.
Join us for an introduction to this new practical resource, created to help students of all abilities participate meaningfully in arts education. Featuring spotlight examples, key questions, resources, and tools, the Guide is designed for parents, students, teachers, administrators, Child Study Team members, and community partners.
In this introductory session, you'll learn what's inside the Guide, how to use it, and actions you can take to help advance inclusive arts education in your school community.
Engagement Webinars
Putting the Inclusion Guide Into Action
How can we work together to ensure students of all abilities have meaningful access to arts education?
Join us for an interactive introduction to the Guide, a practical resource for imagining, strengthening, and sustaining inclusive arts education. Together, we'll explore spotlight examples, key questions, resources, and tools, and consider how you can use them to support a shared vision. Each session features the same core content, with conversation and examples tailored to the audience.
December 2
Time: 2:00-3:00PM
Session Description: Explore the questions school teams can ask and the actions they can take to strengthen inclusive arts education practices and programs.
January 6
Time: 5:30–6:30 PM
Focus: Explore the questions families and students can ask and how they can partner with schools to support meaningful access to arts education.
February 10
Time: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Focus: Explore the questions school and community partners can ask and how your organization can help support inclusive arts education through programs and partnerships.
Voices Behind The Guide
The Inclusion Guide Writing Team Members:
Lauren Baldino, Ed.D., Inclusion Facilitator, All In for Inclusive Education
Patrice Coleman, Director of Special Services, Roselle Public Schools and Co-chair Special Education Committee, NJPSA
Adam Cruz, Chief Operating Officer, NJSACC: New Jersey's Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (OST) Professional Network
Shawna Longo, District Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts, Westfield Public Schools
Cristina Marte, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Mason Gross School ofthe Arts, Rutgers University
Michelle Marigliano, Senior Director of Education and Equity, Young Audiences Arts forLearning NJ and Eastern PA
Responding Team Members:
Annie Corley-Hand, Director, Leading Innovative Learning Associates, LLC
Kristina Hill, Executive Leader of Education, Appel Farm Arts & Music Center
Peggy McDonald, Ed.D., Coordinator of Professional Learning and Special Projects, NJPSA/FEA
Shea Murray, Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator, New Jersey Department of Education
Jennifer Steffich, Director of Student Services, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District
Rebekah Sterlacci, District Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts, Piscataway Township Schools
Fidelia Sturdivant, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, NJPSA/FEA
John Worthington, Esq., Coordinator of Special Education Law, for LEGAL ONE at NJPSA/FEA
Reflections from Our Partner Team Members:
“This guide was born from listening to the field. We heard from families whose students with IEPs were missing out on arts education, and from others whose children were thriving when fully included. That contrast stayed with us. We created this guide to help ensure that every family, educator, and school leader has the information and support needed to make arts access possible for all students.
“Inclusive education means that every student, including those with disabilities, has access to the full educational experience, and that includes the arts. Too often, students are unintentionally excluded because systems and supports are not clearly aligned. This guide helps shift that, offering a framework for ensuring that students with IEPs are meaningfully included in arts education.”
"This guide provides school and district leaders with clear, practical, and inspirational guidance on how to ensure all students have access to arts education. We know the policy is in place, but implementation can be complex. This resource helps administrators move from intention to action, with strategies that support inclusive practices across classrooms, schedules, and systems."
"The Inclusion Guide for Arts Education provides a common vocabulary and shared vision for inclusive arts education. As we look ahead, I'm excited to offer the type of professional learning that will lead to collective action and expand inclusive arts education in our state."
We want to hear from you.
Share your thoughts on the Inclusion Guide for Arts Education — your feedback helps us strengthen this resource for families, educators, and school communities across New Jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions
