What's Going On?

Advocacy for music in schools takes place in many different ways and there are numerous things going on right now of which you should be aware. First and foremost, the most effective advocacy is the quality of learning that occurs in your music program. There is no question about the value of music education in schools when large numbers of students are impacted by effective music teachers and enriching musical experiences. If involvement in music courses drops and/or the resulting experience is not recognized as relevant, then the perceived value is challenged. Each music teacher in Kansas has the responsibility of advocating for music education through effective teaching.

In the current educational environment where documentation of student learning is valued as teacher effectiveness, it is essential that our profession can clearly identify what students are to have learned in our classes and how well they can apply their learning in authentic demonstration of achievement. This type of assessment has always been at the foundation of music education, but documentation of individual student achievement has not. This is why the new Model Cornerstone Assessments accompanying the new National Standards for Music Education are important. If you would consider piloting these Model Cornerstone Assessments, submit your interest on this site:
https://kstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6ofT98LqKfDQnid.

Dr. Frederick Burrack from Kansas State University and Steven Oare from Wichita State University are guiding a pilot for all music educators across the state who wish to participate. Some of those who participate in the Kansas pilot will be selected to participate in the national pilot through NAfME. These Model Cornerstone Assessments hold the possibility to provide a foundation for assessments you select in your school's KEEP teacher evaluation process. Involvement is a great form of advocacy.

One strong element of the new National Standards for Music Education is that they reflect the new National Standards for all of the ARTS (Visual arts; Theatre; Dance; Media arts). It is important to expand on this movement and show a unity among the art forms in schools. This is where the Kansas Alliance for Arts in Education (KSAAE) comes into play. Founded in 2012, the alliance was organized to ensure that the arts are an integral part of quality education in Kansas' schools, advocate for arts education across the state at the state and federal level, and to provide professional development for arts educators. On September 20, 2014, the KSAAE will host a conference titled: Arts, Science & Beyond: Moving STEM to STEAM at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson. Consider finding how we all can advocate the contribution of the arts in STEM education. Online registration is available at www.ksallianceforarts.org. For more information or questions, send an e-mail to .

Lastly, the Kansas Creative Arts industries Commission is partnering with the KSAAE in the development of the Kansas A+ pilot program to take place next school year, 2015-2016. We all clearly recognize that integrating the arts into all areas of education and career development can increase student success and produce an innovative workforce. Last year, several national programs were reviewed, and a committee selected the A+ Schools program as a successful, researched based model to be introduced in our state. The program promotes the national trend of arts-integration, by daily infusing arts (visual art, music, performing arts, etc.) into every classroom and every traditional subject. Two schools will be funded during the 2015-2016 school year to participate in a pilot program, with the goal of extending the program further, based on the evaluation of the program and on available resources. During the current school year, there will be meetings to introduce the program and receive input and feedback from educators, school administrators, key arts businesses, and community leaders, funders, and foundations during several meetings. Watch www.ksallianceforarts.org for more information.