State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Public Comment Period Open for New Arts Education Framework

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced today that the draft 2020 Arts Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve has been released for public comment. California is leading the way to ensure an inclusive and relevant arts education that supports creative personal realization and develops competencies needed for career and college readiness.

“An arts education develops artistically literate citizens who are engaged, creative, responsive, and prepared to contribute to civic life,” said State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. “With this new framework, California demonstrates a commitment to ensuring schools support the development of creativity and appreciation for the arts as an essential component of our students’ education. Arts education also boosts school attendance, academic achievement, and college attendance rates; improves school climate; and promotes higher self-esteem and social-emotional development.”

The new Arts Framework provides guidance for implementing the 2019 California Arts Standards for Public Schools, Prekindergarten Through Grade Twelve located on the CDE California Arts Standards web page, which include standards for teaching dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. The Arts Standards and Arts Framework will help educators and schools ensure all students have access to high-quality, sequential, standards-based arts education.

The public will have until December 1, 2019, to review the draft framework on the Arts Framework web page. Comments may be submitted using the CDE 2020 California Arts Framework online survey [Note: this survey is closed] or via email to VAPA@cde.ca.gov. The public comments will be presented to the Instructional Quality Commission for review and possible inclusion into the final Arts Framework in spring 2020.

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100