Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires visual and performing arts courses to be taught in grades kindergarten through 8th grade.

Highlights:

• Requires all public schools, by the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, to (Sec. 1):

• Provide to all students a minimum of 100 minutes per week, or an equivalent amount, of sequenced instruction in the visual and performing arts such as music, visual arts, theater, and dance, in accordance with visual and performing arts standards, for schools containing grades kindergarten through 5; 

• Offer to all students sequenced instruction in the visual and performing arts, including at least one course each year, which includes the opportunity for students to develop their creative talents and interests in the arts and is in accordance with visual and performing arts standards, for schools containing grades 6 through 8;

• Submit an annual visual and performing arts program data report to the Kentucky Department of Education; and

• Implement school policies that:

• Include visual and performing arts instruction as part of the instructional day; 

• Ensure the requirements of this bill are not substantially met by embedding or integrating visual and performing arts instruction in courses other than art courses; 

• Prohibit discipline options from including revoking participation in art instruction; and

• Prohibit reducing visual and performing arts instructional time for the remediation of student deficiencies in other subjects.

• Requires the Kentucky Department of Education to do all of the following, including (Sec. 1):

• Develop and disseminate to schools program standards for the visual and performing arts, in consultation with certified visual and performing arts specialist teachers; 

• Develop and disseminate to schools guidelines on visual and performing arts model programs and additional arts enrichment activities that occur during the school day, including co-curricular instruction; 

• Encourage school councils to develop their own arts program models and to utilize and consult with certified art specialist teachers in the development of their plans; 

• Provide schools and easy-to-use checklist for reporting data on arts programs, including how the programs meet the arts standards, to be included in the school profile report; and

• Report to the Interim Joint Committee on Education on the status of schools meeting the requirements listed above by December 1, 2021, and by December 1 of each year thereafter.

Full Bill Text