Only by utilizing all of these resources can individuals achieve the full educational potential of the arts. Further, any serious attempt to address arts education must articulate the value of a comprehensive approach to basic education and affirm the integral role of the arts in education and in education reform. These standards provide all educators with guidelines for providing a comprehensive approach to educating students in all of the arts and support learning in, through, and about the arts. The object is to be ready for anything. Arts education can be threatened at any time, particularly with new board members and administrators a fact of life in the public schools.
Students reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merits of their work and work of others.
The Arizona State Board of Education was charged with adopting new standards in nine academic and workplace disciplines. Nearly a two year process, the Arts Standards were adopted on April 28, 1997. There is, however, no effective mandate since the assessment for the arts is now left to the discretion of local school boards. Local advocacy is now a major issue in Arizona. The Arizona State Board of Education sees the arts as an integrated part of curriculum.