Dear MISIC Educators:
We are writing to share with you an opportunity to provide input in April and May on Fine Arts standards under consideration in Iowa.
Iowa’s Fine Arts Standards Adoption Team, which was convened by the Iowa Department of Education earlier this year, has requested broad public feedback on the National Core Arts Standards, which were developed by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards. Feedback gathered through spring public forums and an online survey will be used to provide guidance to the Fine Arts Standards Adoption Team, whose charge is to recommend fine arts standards to the State Board of Education. If adopted, fine arts standards would be recommended, but not required for Iowa school districts.
Public forums have been scheduled statewide on April 25 and April 27, and an online feedback survey is open through May 12 at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZF7BCQY
Details on the public forums and the specifics from the department are found in the press release below:
Becky Hacker-Kluver and Jamie Morgan, MISIC
Angela Matsuoka, Department of Education
Input sought on fine arts standards
April public forums scheduled; online survey opens today
DES MOINES – Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise today announced he’s seeking public input on fine arts standards that are under consideration in Iowa.
Wise announced public forums throughout the state on April 25 and April 27, as well as an online survey open through May 12, following a state team’s recommendation to get feedback on the National Core Arts Standards. These standards were developed by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards, an alliance of national arts and arts education groups.
Wise convened Iowa’s Fine Arts Adoption Team earlier this year in response to public support for offering statewide standards that go beyond the mandatory subject areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and 21st century skills.
Fine arts standards serve as a guide for educators to provide a high-quality arts education for students in preschool through 12th grades. Fine arts include visual art, music, theater, dance and media arts.
“While the adoption team’s members have a varied background in the fine arts disciplines, we feel it is important to seek feedback from all interested Iowans in order to create a set of fine arts standards that meets the needs of all students in Iowa and serves as a framework to guide fine arts educators in all types of classrooms and school settings across the state,” said Ronda Sternhagen, a member of the Fine Arts Standards Adoption Team. Sternhagen is a visual arts educator at Grundy Center Middle/High School and a visual arts consultant at Area Education Agency 267.
Feedback from the public forums and online survey will be used to provide guidance to the Fine Arts Standards Adoption Team, which is expected to submit a final recommendation to the State Board of Education later this year. If adopted, fine arts standards would be optional for school districts.
Iowans can access the online survey regarding the National Core Arts Standards at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZF7BCQY
Iowans also are encouraged to provide feedback at the April 25 and April 27 public forums. Sites and details are as follows:
TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Meeting location:
Heartland Area Education Agency
6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Satellite sites:
- Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency – 729 21st Street, Bettendorf
- Lincoln Elementary School – 321 West 8th Street, Cedar Falls
- Grant Wood Area Education Agency – 4401 6th Street SW, Cedar Rapids
- Keystone Area Education Agency Conference Center – 1400 2nd Street NW, Elkader
- Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency – 1235 5th Avenue S, Fort Dodge
- Area Education Agency 267 – 909 South 12th Street, Marshalltown
- Great Prairie Area Education Agency – 2814 North Court Street, Ottumwa
- Red Oak High School Media Center – 2011 North 8th Street, Red Oak
- Northwest Area Education Agency – 1520 Morningside Avenue, Sioux City
THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Meeting location:
Area Education Agency 267
3712 Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls
Satellite sites:
- Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency – 729 21st Street, Bettendorf
- Grant Wood Area Education Agency – 4401 6th Street SW, Cedar Rapids
- Keystone Area Education Agency – 2310 Chaney Road, Dubuque
- Heartland Area Education Agency – 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
- Area Education Agency 267 – 909 South 12th Street, Marshalltown
- Great Prairie Area Education Agency – 2814 North Court Street, Ottumwa
- Red Oak High School Media Center – 2011 North 8th Street, Red Oak
- Northwest Area Education Agency – 1382 4th Avenue NE, Sioux Center
- Northwest Area Education Agency – 1520 Morningside Avenue, Sioux City
- Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency – 23 East 7th Street, Spencer
For more information about the Fine Arts Standards Adoption Team, visit the Iowa Department of Education’s website.