Inclusion of the arts in education matters to artists because it affects the extent to which society at large is appreciative of what they do, because it shapes coming generations of those who enjoy and purchase art, and because it offers employment opportunities for artists.
Current Law
A discussion of the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act, which currently governs federal K-12 education policy, that apply to the arts. A joint effort of multiple arts organizations.
No Subject Left Behind: A Guide to Arts Education Opportunities in the 2001 Education Act
State policy is extremely important in education. Here are two databases about state education policy pertinent to the arts.
Education Commission of the States [www.ecs.org]
Education Commission of the States/State Policy Database
Arts Education Partnership [www.aep-arts.org]
Arts Education Partnership/State Policy Database
Impact of Arts Education
This discussion of the impact of inclusion of the arts in the schools provides one of several links between the arts and education law and policy.
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies [www.nasaa-arts.org]
http://www.nasaa-arts.org/publications/critical-evidence.pdf
The linkage between education, the arts, and employment.
Center for the Arts, George Mason University [www.gmu.edu/cfa/about/]
Ann Gilligan/Creativity, Culture, Education, and the Workforce