Districts choosing to integrate the arts across the curriculum have a high percentage of classroom teachers using arts techniques. The strongest districts make a commitment to providing a basic education in the arts to every child, usually in the elementary years. Districts perceive graduation requirements in the arts as helpful in increasing access and exposure in secondary schools. Community collaborations were overwhelmingly cited as a way to overcome those challenges. Most districts work with the community to offer and enhance arts education through parent involvement, artists in the schools, and relationships with arts institutions, businesses, and universities.
Most districts have a district-level commitment to the arts through apportioned resources.
Many districts are rebuilding after severe cuts to the arts 15 years ago. Some of the strongest districts have arts-supportive school leaders who have worked for the district for more than a decade. District arts coordinators often take a leading role. Many districts working on educational reform use state and national standards in the arts to shape their arts education. At the request of the President's Committee and Arts Education Partnership, they also share in side quotes throughout this report what they feel they personally learned from these school districts.