"It is clear that learning in and through the arts is a powerful tool for engaging all types of learners. What people aren’t talking much about though is the positive effect it can have on teachers. Teachers at our school are trusted to take creative risks, encouraged to work collaboratively, and supported as they grow in their abilities to integrate the arts. I have no doubt this has helped us attract and retain top-notch teachers. The arts have proven to be an accessible and positive force for our school."

Lori Cozzi, Executive Director, ArtSpace Charter School, a public A+ School in Buncombe County

What is Comprehensive Arts Education?

In today's globally competitive world, innovative thinking and creativity are essential for all school children. High quality, standards-based instruction in the arts develops these skills and effectively engages, retains, and prepares future-ready students for graduation and success in an entrepreneurial economy. Dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts, taught by licensed arts educators and integrated throughout the curriculum, are critical to North Carolina's 21st century education. (Senate Bill 66: Comprehensive Arts Education Task Force, 2010)

Comprehensive Arts Education wheel: Three equal parts of Arts Education, Arts Integration, Arts Exposure.

The Three components of CAE are interdependent and are all necessary.

Arts Education

The arts as core academic subjects, taught by licensed arts educators. This includes dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts.

Arts Integration

The arts as a catalyst for learning across the curriculum creating deeper learning experiences that support content mastery and the development of critical and creative twenty-first century skills

Arts Exposure

Exposure to quality arts experience offered during and outside of school such as artists-in-residence, visits to galleries, concerts, and performances.

The responsibility to provide a comprehensive arts education is shared by many partners. It requires a collaboration of administrators, educators, artists and community organizations to bring a full complement of CAE opportunities to our children. CAE, when implemented in all districts of North Carolina, will provide access and equity for all children to be successful in work and life.

NCDPI Comprehensive Arts Education Guide

The Arts Education Team at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has compiled all relevant information pertaining to Comprehensive Arts Education in K-12 Dance, Music, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts into THIS DOCUMENT to provide clarity around the unique framework for North Carolina Arts Education.

The content is presented in four sections:

What is Comprehensive Arts Education? - An overview of the legislation and task force findings which support Comprehensive Arts Education in North Carolina for reference.
Arts Education - This section guides access to the resources necessary to provide instruction of an arts discipline according to the Standard Course of Study to develop the student as an artist.
Arts Integration - This section provides guidance on how to provide instruction designed to show students how non arts content connects to arts content in both areas.
Arts Exposure - This section provides information on how to curate experiences for students which are authentic and also aligned to the Standard Course of Study. Arts Exposure gives students the opportunity to experience the arts as presented by professionals on a stage, in a gallery, or through a teaching artist in residence. A brief discussion on funding these experiences is included.

In addition to the foundational information in each section, FAQs are provided from archived questions from the field. You can access this document at bit.ly/CAE-Guide.