Getting the Best

High School Arts Education

A Guide for Parents and Students in New York City

www.caenyc.org
1-877-434-2787 • 212-971-3300
Contents
2W
 hy Arts
Education Matters

3A
 rts Education
Is Required

4Y
 ou Have
the Power

6 Take Action

8 Resources

“My husband and I believe strongly that arts education is

essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our
Published by
The Center for Arts Education nation’s leaders of tomorrow.” — First Lady Michelle Obama
Copyright © 2010 CAE
www.caenyc.org
1-877-434-2787
212-971-3300

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 Dear Parent,
Whether your child is a burgeoning artist or simply a young person trying to navigate
through high school, this guide is for you. Inside you will find vital information about
arts education in NYC public high schools: the benefits, the types and the amount of arts
instruction your child should be receiving at school and easy tools you can use to support
the arts at home and at school. This guide will also provide basic information on the
NYC graduation requirements and the range of jobs within the creative sector, and
additional arts education resources to help you get more involved in your child’s education.

“Our students live in one

of the world’s best arts
cities and they deserve
nothing less than a world-
class arts education.”
 — Mayor Michael Bloomberg

“My art teachers want to

have a positive influence on
kids. I’ve learned so much
from my theater teacher in
the last three years!”
 —Joseph, Grade 12

Animator • Architect • Art Critic • Art Director • Art historian • Art Therapist • CabinetMaker • Cake Decorator • Calligrapher • >> www.caenyc.org 1

Why Arts
Education
Matters:
especially in high school
High school is a time of great uncertainty and challenges—
both social and academic. Students struggle with forging an
identity and planning for college and their future, all while
navigating the daunting social terrain of a new academic
environment. The arts are a vital tool for success in high
school because they provide positive, constructive and
creative pathways that afford teens the opportunity to:
• Develop confidence
• Express complex feelings and ideas
• Think creatively and learn to take risks
• L earn about other cultures and their own
• C
 ollaborate and engage positively with others
• B
 uild a sense of community in their schools
• Develop the kind of problem-solving skills employers
are looking for in a highly competitive workforce
Camera Operator • Cartoonist • Casting director • Choreographer • Cinematographer • Composer • Conductor • CopyWriter • Cosmetologist • Costume Designer
How the Arts Help Teens Enjoy—
and Stay in—School
Arts keep students engaged in school life. Students take
the skills learned from their arts education experiences—
discipline, patience and problem-solving—and apply them
throughout their lives.
Did You Know Taking Arts Classes Helps Teens
Graduate on Time?
A recent report by The Center for Arts Education
shows that high schools with the most access to—
and support for—arts education have the city’s highest
graduation rates. You can read the report online
(www.caenyc.org/arts-education-report).
Arts Education Provides a Gateway to the Future
Today’s arts-related businesses in New York City generate
$21 billion annually, providing jobs in everything from
set design and theater management to video game design
and advertising.
Located in the cultural capital of the world, our city’s schools
have the potential to provide students with top-notch arts
education and prepare them to become a part of and excel
in the arts and arts-related industries, which generate more
than 200,000 jobs.
How the Arts Can Help in Applying to College
• The College Board found that students who take art for all
four years of high school scored substantially higher on the
SAT than students with six months or less training in the arts.
• The State University of New York strongly recommends that
applying students take courses in the fine arts.
• The arts help a student develop the creativity and critical-
thinking skills needed to thrive in any college environment.
“Through music I can express myself without
being limited by words.”
 — Stephania, Grade 12

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to
remain an artist once he grows up.”
 — Pablo Picasso, artist
• Culinary Artist • Curator • Dancer • Dance Therapist • Director • Fabric Designer • Fashion Buyer • fashion editor • Film critic •
ARTS EDUCATION
IS REQUIRED
Did You Know New York State Has a Graduation
Requirement for the Arts?
New York State requires that a student complete one unit
(two semesters) in the arts—dance, music, theater, visual
arts—taught by a teacher licensed in the subject area they
are teaching.
In New York City, high schools have the option of fulfilling
these graduation requirements through either a half-unit
of credit (one semester each) in both visual arts and music or
one unit of credit (one year) in one of the four art forms.
What All Parents Should Know—NYC Has a
Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts
The New York City Department of Education has published a
comprehensive Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the
Arts (Grades pre-K–12) for principals and teachers that
provides common goals for curricula in the areas of dance,
music, theater, visual arts and the moving image.
Make Sure Your School Knows That You
and Other Parents Consider Art an Essential
and Non-Negotiable Academic Subject!
You’re not alone. The U.S. Secretary of Education has
declared the arts a “core academic subject and part of a
complete education for all students.”
In fact, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act defines
the arts as a core subject, and the arts play a significant role in
children’s development and learning process.
Did You Know That Nearly 20% of High Schools
Do Not Have a Certified Arts Teacher on Staff?
Be aware that despite state mandates requiring all
students to complete one unit (one year) of instruction
taught by a certified arts teacher, many high schools do
not have a single certified arts teacher on staff.
>> www.caenyc.org 3
YOU HAVE
THE POWER:
help your teen get
the most out of
his/her arts education
How to Find the Right Arts Program in High School
• Use the NYC Department of Education’s high school directory
(available in print or at schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/
High/Directory/Search/default.htm) to research schools
offering the art forms that interest your teen.
•A ttend school tours and open houses to see the school and
meet the faculty. Look for displays of student work
and a schedule of annual events. Does the school take
pride in the work of students and exhibit it?
“I don’t think I would have become President
if it had not been for school music.”
 — Former President Bill Clinton
Make Sure You Understand the Kind of Art Classes
Your Teen Needs
If your teen did not have a strong middle school program or
if he wants to try something new, you will want a school
with good introductory classes. But if your teen has been
practicing an art form and wants to study it in depth, look
for a school with advanced instruction.
Chancellor’s Endorsed Diploma in the Arts: For the
Serious Arts Student
• This credential can help an applicant stand out when
applying to college.
• Students involved in advanced study of the arts have the
opportunity to receive this Chancellor’s endorsed diploma if
they successfully complete a minimum of 10 sequential
credits (semesters) in one of the four art forms at the high
school level and pass a rigorous four-part commencement
assessment. Students receiving this diploma are also eligible
for a New York State Regents Diploma with Advanced
Designation Through the Arts.
• Be sure to ask the school if students are able to
graduate with this distinction.  
How to Help the Serious Middle School
Arts Student Prepare for Advanced Study in
High School
• Make notes of any audition requirements and dates;
check whether your student needs to assemble a portfolio
of his/her work.
• Ask if the school has certified arts teachers. How many?
And in what art forms?
• When you tour the school’s facilities, check to see if rooms
and spaces are dedicated to each of the art forms offered.
• Ask if the school partners with local arts groups. Are after-
school arts activities available?
• Find out if there are regularly scheduled field trips to
concerts, plays, dance programs or art exhibitions.
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 Is Your Teen’s School Providing a Quality Arts Education?
ArtsCount: Know How Your School Measures Up. All schools now participate
in an annual Arts Education Survey conducted by the NYC DOE’s ArtsCount
initiative (www.caenyc.org/artscount). The survey gathers data on art
classes offered, school spending on the arts and other aspects of a school’s
arts programming. The responses are compiled into the Annual Arts in Schools
Report, which provides valuable information about student access to and
participation in arts education and the resources available to support arts
education in your teen’s school and the system as a whole.

Your school’s Annual Arts in Schools Report can be found on the school’s web
page under the “About Us” heading, subtitled “statistics.”

Some Questions to Ask When You Talk to Your School’s Teachers,

Parent Coordinator or Principal:
• Which arts courses does the school offer? Are the number and types of
courses adequate to meet the minimum graduation requirements in music,
visual arts, drama and dance?
• Do all students have access to the arts classes?
•A re a sufficient number of advanced courses available for students
to attain a Chancellor’s Endorsed Diploma in the Arts?
• Does the school have a budget for arts supplies and teaching materials?
• Does the school have cultural partners? In what art forms?
How many hours of instruction do they provide?
• Do classes take field trips to museums, theaters or other arts events?
• What is the principal’s vision to support and grow arts instruction?
•A re the arts part of the school’s Comprehensive Education Plan?

Your Chance to Speak Up

The annual NYC School Survey measures awareness among students
and parents of the art offerings in your child’s school and your satisfaction
with the curriculum. If students and parents are not satisfied with the
school’s arts program, take this opportunity to speak up.

“I didn’t have art in middle school, but I didn’t let that stop me.
I went out and found a Saturday program. Showing initiative
helped me when I applied to high school.”
 — Dominique, Grade 12

Graphic designer • Hairdresser • Illustrator • Industrial Designer • Interactive Designer • Interior Designer • Jewelry Maker • >> www.caenyc.org 5

“At first my parents were
skeptical, they thought
art was something easy.
Now they see how hard
I work at it.”
 — Dominique, Grade 10
TAKE ACTION:
what you can do to protect
your teen’s right to a quality
arts education
Collect Information that Can Help You Be an Advocate for
Your Teen in School
• Learn about the school’s goals for the arts and what steps it is taking to achieve
these goals. Ask what parents can do to help.
• Find out if the PTA supports arts activities for students and families, and ask to
speak about the importance of arts education at its meeting.
• Identify talent among the parents that can help the school. Are there parents who
are artists or work in arts-related jobs, such as designers, theater managers or
museum employees, who could come to school and speak about their careers?
•A  re there parents who know how to write grants to get funds to support the
arts program?
Build a Team of Parents Committed to Arts Education and
Share Ideas, Fundraise and Encourage Your School to Increase
Its Support of the Arts
Contact CAE’s Arts Education Action Network (www.caenyc.org/advocacy/
parent_coalition) for tips on how to get started.
•A s a group, let the school administration know how important your teens’
arts learning is to you.
• Send a letter or email to the administration signed by a number of
like-minded parents.
•H ave parents in your school fill out and mail the tear-off card in this
guide to send a message to the Schools Chancellor that you think
the arts are important.
•A sk the school to dedicate resources to its arts programs.
• If you’d like help with reaching other parents at your school, ask CAE to
contact your school and arrange to come and speak about the benefits
of arts education and how to get involved to support it.
Landscape Architect • Lighting Designer • MakeUp Artist • metalworker • Museum Curator • painter •
 “The arts can help
students become
tenacious, team-
oriented problem-
solvers who are
confident and able
to think creatively.
These qualities can be
especially important
in improving learning
among students
from economically
disadvantaged
circumstances.”
 — Arne Duncan,
 u.s. secretary of education

Join CAE’s Arts Education Action Network, a group
of public school parents and community members who
want to improve arts education. The Network works with
elected officials, organizations and individuals to achieve
this goal. Visit the CAE website for more information:
www.caenyc.org/advocacy.
Share This Guide
Call CAE to order more guides for your school:
212-971-3300 or 877-434-2787. You can either go
online to request guides for your school or download
them here: caenyc.org/high-school-parent-guide.
Make the Arts a Part of Your Teen’s Life
Beyond School
• Encourage your teen to visit museums, some of which have
free passes and programs for teens.
• Attend concerts and performances together. Research
nonprofit organizations dedicated to making the arts
affordable for teens. See CAE’s online Resources page for
ideas (caenyc.org/resources/links).
• Encourage your teen’s use of technology, including
computer-based video and music production.
• Help your teen find and apply for internships in the
creative sector.

performance artist • Photographer • Photo Journalist • Pit Musician • print maker • Producer • Programmer • Screenwriter • Sculptor • >> www.caenyc.org 7
“I found I could say things
with color and shapes that I
couldn’t say any other way—
things I had no words for.”
 — Georgia O’Keeffe, artist

“A work of art is above all an

adventure of the mind.”
 — Eugène Ionesco, playwright

Resources
You can download this Parent Guide or email it from our
website. There are additional guides for parents with children
in grades K–2, 3–5 and 6–8.
Arts Advocacy Workshops – Invite a CAE representative
to work with parents and faculty to support arts education in
your school and throughout the school system. Contact CAE
or visit www.caenyc.org/advocacy to learn more.
Arts Powered Learning – Web-based modules offering
tools and strategies representing best practices to design,
implement and sustain arts education programming in
schools are available at www.caenyc.org/practices.
E-Action Center – Visit CAE’s online action center
(www.caenyc.org/action) to easily contact your elected
officials regarding the importance of arts education.
Parents As Arts Partners Program – This CAE initiative
fosters partnerships with cultural organizations to engage
parents and families in hands-on interactive arts education.
Contact CAE or visit www.caenyc.org/PAAP to learn about
eligibility requirements.
Professional Development – CAE offers a range of
professional development services for principals, teaching
artists, school counselors and teachers. Contact CAE or visit
www.caenyc.org/PD to learn more.
Visit CAE’s online Resource page
(www.caenyc.org/resources) and NYC DOE’s
ArtsCount page (www.caenyc.org/artscount)
to research additional arts education programs,
events and activities.

Set Designer • Singer • Sketch artist • Sound Engineer • Special effects specialist • Stage technician • Stage Manager • StoryBoard Artist • Stylist •
 Terms you should know
ArtsCount A DOE initiative aimed at enhancing arts education
in New York City public schools. A centerpiece of this initiative
was the development of a series of metrics on the arts education
taking place in city schools.
Arts Education Liaison A staff member designated by a school’s
principal who serves as a conduit for arts learning and helps
students meet New York State Instructional Requirements for Arts
Education. Visit http://schools.nyc.gov/offices/teachlearn/arts/
nysartsrequirements.html.
Arts-in-Education The field of arts education in the schools
includes: arts education during and after school; partnerships
between schools and cultural organizations; visiting artists; artist
residencies; in-school performances by performing artists; art
workshops for educators; field trips to museums and performing
arts events; school-wide celebrations.
Annual Arts in Schools Report Collects and synthesizes data on
arts participation, spending, staffing and instructional programming
to provide a comprehensive view of arts education in city schools.
The annual report includes individual schools and aggregate data
for the school system as a whole. It is designed to help school
leaders, parents and teachers understand how they can improve
student learning in the arts.
CEC Community Education Councils. Each CEC oversees a
Community School District that includes public elementary,
intermediate and junior high schools. It comprises nine parents
of students in the district and two additional voting members
appointed by the borough presidents.
CEP Comprehensive Education Plan. This is the annual
statement of educational philosophy and approach prepared “What we play is life.” — Louis Armstrong, musician
by every public school.
Cultural Partners Museums, theaters and other cultural
organizations that partner with schools to provide arts
education services.
DOE Department of Education. The governing body of the New
York City public school system.
Office of Family Engagement and Advocacy Office within the
DOE that engages public school parents and families and represents
parents’ views in decision-making at the highest levels of the DOE.
www.caenyc.org/OFEA
Parent Coordinator Paid staff position at some NYC public schools;
coordinates parent activities and responds to parent concerns.
PA and PTA Parent Association and Parent Teacher Association.
These leadership groups are open to all parents and are required
in every public school. Their meetings are good places for parents
to find out what’s happening in their child’s school.
SLT School Leadership Team. This group is comprised of a
school’s principal, teachers and parents. It makes decisions
about school priorities and how the budget is spent, and
evaluates a school’s progress.
TA Teaching Artist. Professional artist and educator who often
works through a cultural organization and comes into schools to
teach art on a visiting basis.
UFT United Federation of Teachers. This union represents NYC public
school teachers and provides publications and resources to increase
parent involvement in schools.

Writer: Catherine Fukushima

Designer: Michael DiGiacomo, BerlinRosen

Talent agent • 3-D Artist and renderer • Toy designer • Typography Designer • Urban Planner • Video Game Designer • Web Designer www.caenyc.org 9
 Getting the Best High School Arts Education
A Guide for Parents and Students in New York City
Obtenga la Mejor Educación Artística en la Secundaria
Una Guía para los Padres y Estudiantes en la Ciudad de Nueva York

1-877-434-2787
212-971-3300
225 West 34th Street Suite 1112
New York, NY 10122