Arts in Education - Arts Education Research Initiative (AERI)

The purpose of the Arts Education Research Initiative is to gather data on arts education in K-12 public schools across the state and to use this data to strengthen opportunities for student learning in the arts.

K-12 principals recently completed an online survey to help us better understand the state of arts education in Washington. The survey is part of the second statewide study of arts education led by the Washington State Arts Commission (WSAC); the first study Arts Education Resources Initiative: Arts for Every Student, was completed in 2005. The follow-up survey represents the continuation of our efforts to study and share successes as well as challenges in arts education.

The results of this research will help schools, policy-makers, arts organizations, funders, families, and other community leaders understand the current status of arts education in our state and use this data to inform decision-making around arts education policy and practice. Understanding areas of greatest need, as well as areas of high achievement, will help us catalyze support and align resources.

Data from individual schools will not be released or shared outside the research team; aggregated findings will be published for use by schools, policy makers, and the public.

The Arts Education Research Initiative is led by the Washington State Arts Commission, with support and endorsement from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Association of Washington School Principals, ArtsEd Washington, and the Washington State Arts Alliance.