Arts Education in Missouri

Arts Education happens in a variety of ways in Missouri.

With our Early Learners

In Missouri K-12 public, private and parochial schools

In Missouri's Higher Education Community

In Private Studio Settings

Through our Community Arts Agencies

Through arts institutions

Through Local Community institutions

Online

MAAE believes highly trained, well-qualified arts educators are essential

  • Fine Arts Courses taught by certified arts educators are an integral part of education for every student in Missouri schools.

  • MAAE acknowledges non-profit organizations, teaching artists, private studio teachers and arts businesses provide high quality arts education opportunities which enrich the lives of Missourians.

  • Arts education and engagement with the arts develops pro-social skills, leads to workplace success and economic prosperity, and improved quality of life for all.

MAAE believes learning comes alive when the arts are involved in instruction

  • Using songs as a rote memory tool, such as learning to sing A-B-Cs or using Tangrams® to create figures shapes student learning is enhanced through use of the arts.

MAAE believes in integrating the arts into ANY subject:

  • makes learning more holistic, relevant and meaningful

  • provides opportunities for deeper student engagement and increased retention

  • enriches the experience for both teacher and learner, making learning more fun and effective

  • allows students to connect an art form with other subject area(s) to construct and deepen understanding.

MAAE believes the arts are a crucial and intricate part of STE(A)M education


In Missouri, you may find four distinct ways that the arts are used in K-12 education.

These approaches meet different needs and goals addressed by each.

Fine Arts Curriculum

"Arts for Arts' Sake"

  • Primary focus: Art & art-making

  • Taught by certified fine arts specialists

  • Fine arts standards guide learning tasks, assessment and program evaluation

  • Indirect corollary learning may be related to other subject areas

  • Only arts standards are assessed

Teacher Role: The arts teacher's primary responsibility is delivering and assessing district-approved curriculum in their area which reflects the Missouri Fine Arts standards.

Arts-enhanced Learning

  • Art form is used to teach something else. (singing ABC's)

  • May or may not be taught using collaboration between an Arts specialist and a non-arts teacher.

  • Other subject areas guide selection of learning tasks, assessment and program evaluation.

  • Fine Arts standards may be assessed.

Teacher role: Unless requested by another teacher, the arts specialist has no formal role in this approach.

Arts Integration

  • Students engage in a creative process which connects art forms and other subject areas and meets evolving objectives in both.

  • Students construct and demonstrate understanding through one or more art forms.

  • Students use an art form to demonstrate learning, reflecting standards in the arts and non-arts subject area(s).

  • In the planning stages for an arts integration experience the standards are identified and assessments planned.

  • Both arts and non-arts standards are assessed.

  • Learning objectives may evolve throughout the process.

  • Instruction is often delivered collaboratively by non-arts teachers, certified arts specialists and/or teaching artists.

  • The presence of the arts in the learning experience is guaranteed.

Teacher role: Teachers design and deliver lessons that integrate the arts with at least one other subject and reflects learning standards in both. Delivery methods vary. It may require collaborative planning.

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STEAM

  • Collaborative pedagogy where learners solve real-world problems

  • Subject areas involved may include science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.

  • Lesson/units are planned collaboratively involving all subject areas. POTENTIAL EDIT: It is considered best practice for STEAM schools to design their modes of instructional delivery to provide teachers with common planning time and co-teaching opportunities.

  • Learning standards are authentically aligned.

  • Artistic elements may be reflected in the area of design, or communication of the results

  • the presence of the arts as a focal point in the student learning experience is not guaranteed.

Teacher role: Teachers collaborate within the planning and design process. Teacher as coach, facilitates learning as students engage in the design thinking and experimentation to solve a "real-world" problem.

>learn more here