Under the leadership of Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña, New York City has continued to make the arts a priority for all its public schools. The arts enrich our children’s lives and learning, and all students deserve the opportunity to experience a rich arts education. This focus on the arts began in 2004 with the introduction of the Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts, a curriculum framework for what students should know, understand, and be able to achieve in dance, music, theater and visual arts. In 2007, building on the progress that has been made, the NYCDOE announced ArtsCount, an initiative designed to provide greater accountability for arts education in our schools. This Annual Arts in Schools Report shows us where we are and makes clear what we must do to provide quality arts education for every NYC public school student. This information is available both at the school level and for the entire school system.
The Annual Arts in Schools Report includes data about arts teachers, arts budgeting, space for the arts, partnerships with arts and cultural organizations, and parent involvement for elementary, middle, and high schools. The first Annual Arts in Schools Report was published in March 2008. These reports help school administrators, parents, and students understand how their schools are progressing towards offering universal arts education to all students.