Advocacy – Oregon Art Education Association

Visual Arts Education & the Student Success Act:

An Argument for Adequate & Sustainable Funding

The Oregon Art Education Association (OAEA) applauds the passage of Oregon House Bill 2347, the Student Success Act. We are writing to insist that all Oregon students, particularly those in underserved or marginalized groups, receive access to high quality, consistent, visual arts education in alignment with Student Success Act’s stated goals. This statement addresses why arts education matters, how arts education improves learning outcomes for students, and what arts education looks like in practice.

Why Arts Education Matters

For too long, Oregon has lacked an equitable, well-rounded education for all students. Consistently underfunded since the early 1980s, Oregon’s education system has let arts education disappear in many sectors. For example, in the Salem Keizer School District, all elementary visual arts positions were cut by 1990. Today, in that same school district as well as several others, visual arts is not a supported curricular subject until middle school. This is not a minor problem. The creative thinking skills of children atrophy without attention. According to George Land’s study on creativity, kindergarteners work at a creative “genius level” of 98% as divergent thinkers. Ten year-olds work at 30%, 15 year olds at 12%, and adults a low 2 %. In the most recent World Economic Forum Report, the top three skills needed for 2020 are complex problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity. All these skills are nurtured through the study of visual arts.

Art teaches creativity and other 21st Century Skills that all students need. These skills include observation and critical thinking which help us see and question, to be visually literate. Art also teaches us envisioning- imagining ideas prior to creation. Art teaches multiple solutions to a single problem. Art teaches empathy as we examine the world through someone else’s perspective. Art helps students engage with community, civic, and social issues. It provides a venue for students to express themselves. Art provides ways of pursuing understanding of the world.

How Visual Arts Education Improves Student Outcomes

Looking at these benefits of an arts education, the importance of visual art to a well-rounded curriculum is obvious. But visual arts education at all grade levels also benefits Oregon schools facing poor graduation rates, behavioral issues, low attendance rates, and poor academic scores. Students that participate in arts education are associated with higher grades and graduation rates, as well as greater civic engagement as adults (Worcel, Keyes, Naegle. “How the Arts Advance Student Learning”, Oregon Community Foundation, 2017). Some of the stated benefits of Arts Education are:

Social Emotional Learning Benefits of Arts Education

Sequential arts education and arts integration are associated with greater motivation, engagement and self-esteem.
Arts participation is correlated with the development of social competencies.

Academic Benefits of Arts Education

Arts education is related to habits of mind that contribute to academic success.
More sequential arts education is associated with higher academic achievement.
Students who participate in arts integration have higher reading and math scores.
Arts education can help close the achievement gap.

What Quality Visual Arts Education Looks Like in Practice

The Oregon Art Education Association is ready to work with the Oregon Department of Education to develop statewide guidelines for visual arts education. We advocate for the following is a set of best practices.

A continuous K-12 pathway in visual arts for all students.
- Art instruction available in all elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools as students move through the system.
Standards-based coursework in the arts
Highly qualified and licensed visual arts teachers
School leadership and professional development
Arts and cultural partnerships
Dedicated spaces with access to supplies, materials, and instruments
Integration of the arts into other subject areas (e.g. Design Curriculum, Interdisciplinary curriculum, Discipline Diversity, Historical and Contemporary Cultures and Makers)
Consistent and sustainable arts funding

The Student Success Act will provide districts the opportunity to address historic inequities in these areas and ensure that kids creative skills are nurtured. After all, creative skills are sought after by employers, predictive of innovation, and a cornerstone of well-informed citizenry.

Next Steps

Sign the online petition to advocate for equitable access to quality visual arts education.
- Link: ly/ssaforart
Inquire if and how your school district is gathering community input (e.g. community meetings or surveys). If so, participate and advocate for SSA funds to support equitable access to a visual arts education. Encourage others to do so as well.
Contact your school district administrators and use this advocacy statement to request additional funding for arts education from the Student Success Act. Administrators will need to complete an application for the funds. The Student Success Act Toolkit is a useful resource here.
Contact Oregon Arts Education Association Advocacy Chair, Katie Gillard, for additional resources: katieoaea@gmail.com