There are three policy cornerstones that support the arts as one of six core subject areas in Rhode Island. They are the Basic Education Program, the Proficiency-Based Graduation Requirements, and the Arts Grade Span Expectations. Each policy piece supports the others, and should be viewed as a whole. Click on each section to learn specifics….

BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM

Basic Education Program (BEP), passed by the Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education in 2009, and put into effect July 1, 2010.

The purpose of the BEP is to establish general guidelines for quality standards and necessary supports for all students to succeed.

Regarding the arts, the BEP states under G-13-1.3 Comprehensive Program of Study:

1. Each LEA shall provide a comprehensive program of study in English language arts, mathematics, social studies, the sciences, visual arts & design and the performing arts, engineering and technology, comprehensive health, and world languages throughout the PK -12 system. This program of study shall integrate literacy (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), applied learning, and the use of information and communication technology across all content areas.
   

In Section G-13-1.3.5 Dance, Music, Theater and Visual Arts & Design:

(a) A high quality arts education program of study leads to arts literacy for all students and includes dance, music, theatre, and visual arts and design. Students shall be provided with sufficient opportunities to create, perform, and respond in each of their arts courses so as to achieve proficiency. The Rhode Island K‐12 Grade Span Expectations in the Arts specify the arts standards for all students.

(b) Each LEA shall ensure that the coherent K‐12 curricula for the arts include:

1. Artistic Process: Creative problem solving using the tools, techniques, and technology of one or more art forms in order to make the imagined tangible;

2. Cultural Context: Purpose and motivation fundamental to art‐making for all societies; and integration of arts history, analysis, and criticism;

3. Communication: Personal expression, creativity, and meaning through the use of symbols representative of each art form; and sharing of the human experience with image, sound, movement, words, space, time, and/or sequence; and

4. Aesthetic Judgment: Applying knowledge in order to reflect on and evaluate the work of self and others.
   

2. Classes in at least visual arts and design and music shall be available for each student in each grade through the middle level. Curriculum that includes dance and theatre shall adhere to the applicable grade span expectations. A program of study shall exist for all secondary students to enable them to demonstrate proficiency in at least one art form. Additionally, secondary school students shall be provided with the opportunity to do multiple levels of coursework in visual arts and design in both two and three dimensions and in at least one performing arts discipline.
   

There are other ways that the arts can serve the BEP such as family engagement. To read the entire document, go to the RI Department of Education website:

Click here for entire document

PROFICIENCY-BASED GRADUATION (PBGR) REQUIREMENTS

All Rhode Island students graduating from high school must demonstrate proficiency in an art form by graduation. The relevant section of the regulations is:

L-6-3.0 RHODE ISLAND DIPLOMA SYSTEM.

The Rhode Island Diploma System is designed to support students in becoming proficient life-long learners in order to successfully pursue post-secondary academic and career goals. Students will substantiate their proficiency by producing evidence of meeting the content standards and applied learning skills in the six core academic areas, in accordance with local diploma requirements and each student’s individual learning plan (ILP). Local educational agencies (LEAs) shall provide students with multiple opportunities and appropriate supports to ensure students’ progress toward meeting their post-secondary academic and career goals.

L-6-3.1. Coursework graduation requirements.

(a) Local educational agencies (LEAs) shall revise, and school committees shall approve and submit to the Commissioner, at a time and in a manner so designated, local educational agency graduation requirements that: (1) include demonstrations of proficiency in all core areas (ELA, math, science, social studies, the arts and technology) as represented by the ELA, math, and science standards and skills adopted by the Board of Regents, as well as locally adopted standards for the other core areas; (2) apply to all students within the local educational agency; and, (3) include successful completion of at least twenty academic credits (or the equivalent) with fourteen of the credits represented by four academic credits of English Language Arts, four academic courses of mathematics (three mathematics credits and one math-related credit/course), three academic credits of science and three academic credits of history/social studies. The additional six required academic credits are presumed to include, but not be limited to, credits in world languages, the arts, and technology pursuant to local educational agency policies and sufficient to allow students to demonstrate the range of proficiency required by section 3.0 of these regulations. Student selection of courses, and scheduling of those courses, beyond the fourteen required credits set forth herein, shall be made consistent with the student’s individual learning plan (ILP). The twenty required credits represent a minimum, not a maximum, and it is expected that local educational agencies will adopt additional credit requirements as part of their graduation requirements.

ARTS GRADE SPAN EXPECTATIONS (GSE’s)

As a core subject , the arts have statewide Grade Span Expectations which must guide the development of all local curriculum. The Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education formally adopted the Arts Grade Span Expectations on April 1, 2010. The GSE’s cover Visual Arts and Design, Music, Dane, and Theater. The Visual Arts section was written broadly to include media arts. The GSE’s ensure that the curriculum in all Rhode Island schools will be substantial and sequential. There are four key concepts in the Arts Grade Span Expectations for all arts disciplines: Artistic Process, Cultural Context, Communication, and Aesthetic Judgment.