What is the Arts Education Resources Initiative?

This section of the website is part of a Washington State Arts Commission project, the Arts Education Resources Initiative (AERI), which aims to help schools step up to the challenge of bringing high quality arts education to all their students.

The AERI webpages, and the printed booklet, offer encouragement, research-based ideas and support for effective practice, and specific action agendas that principals, teachers, parents, school districts, and community arts providers can use to work toward high quality arts education for all students. On these pages you will find a variety of examples of successful arts education programs, a discussion of the elements of high quality practice, and quotes from practitioners who share their experience and insights.

The webpages and the booklet build on the work of AERI researchers Gerri Spilka and Susy Watts, who surveyed principals statewide and conducted in-depth interviews at 32 sites. The researchers sought to identify successful site-based approaches in Washington schools and districts and the key supports and barriers to their progress; to learn Washington principals’ priorities for the arts and their recommendations for improving arts education; and to identify next steps for sustained results in arts education. The elements and attributes of strong arts programs were identified jointly by AERI researchers, the Washington State Arts Commission (WSAC), and the Arts Implementation Task Force. This project also benefits from WSAC’s long-term commitment to arts education, including annual evaluations of WSAC’s Community Consortium Grants.

Letter from the WSAC Executive Director, Kris Tucker

Download the AERI Booklet (PDF) & Research Report (PDF)