Maine Visual and Performing Arts Assessment Initiative

OVERALL GOAL

Create an environment in Maine where quality assessment in arts education is an integral part of the work all arts educators do to deepen student learning in the arts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

• In the Spring of 2011 Maine launched a statewide initiative on arts education assessment
• The Maine Department of Education has made a commitment to arts assessment work - benefits of assessment work are numerous in promoting arts education programs, PK-12
• The initiative collaborates with MMEA, MAEA, and the Maine theater and dance teachers
• Support is from the Maine Alliance for Arts Education, Maine Learning Technology Initiative, and University of Southern Maine
• 18 teacher leaders were selected for the first phase, attended 4-day professional development institute and created workshops that were facilitated at the statewide arts conference and a regional workshop - October 2011 to June 2012
• Webinar series facilitated by music educator Rob Westerberg and visual art educator Catherine Ring. Archived with meeting plans at http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/vpa/assessment.html 
• 20 teacher leaders were selected for the second phase, attended a 4-day professional development institute and facilitated 60 workshops throughout Maine during the 2012 - 2013 school year at the regional and mega-regional level
  
• Four videos were created of arts teachers in standards-based classrooms representing K-12 education and are located on Maine ARTSEducation youtube channel.
  
• 14 teacher leaders were selected for the third phase, attended a 3-day professional development institute and will be joined by 21 returning teacher leaders from phase 1 and 2 to provide workshops throughout Maine at the regional and mega-regional level during the 2013-14 school year and at the statewide conference, Arts Education: Leading the Way, October 24, 2013. The four areas of focus for phase 3 are: 
• Standards and Proficiency (LD1422)

          o Maine Legislation requires a proficiency based diploma system. Starting with the graduating class of 2018 studnets will need to                           show proficiency in the standards for graduation from a Maine high school.

•  Exemplars (Resource Bank)

          o Teacher leaders are working on a project partially funded by the Maine Arts Commission to create exemplary units for online                            resources made available to everyone

•  Advocacy

          o  Advocacy for Arts education through assessment

• Outreach

          o  Engaging others in the successes of MAAI to impact teaching and learning

OVERALL OBJECTIVES:

• Devise a statewide plan for assessment in arts education which includes professional development opportunities, regionally and statewide, to share and expand on arts educators' knowledge and skills.
• Teachers will be invited to contribute tools, resources, and examples of quality assessments and supportive standards-based curriculum, documents for all to access.
• Develop and implement standards-based assessments statewide for VPA
• Building capacity - stakeholders
• Maine Regional meetings to inform the field, engage and seek input
• Weekly communication w/1188 members of the arts ed list-serv, 800-1000 weekly visits to the Maine Arts Education blog
• Building on New England regional work and preparing Maine for National Arts Standards work being led by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards
• Maine state arts education conference to focus on best practices in curriculum and assessment
• Ongoing professional development opportunities for all arts educators

WE BELIEVE an education in the Arts...

• Is accessible to all students and is differentiated toward student interest and student skills and allows for an in-depth experience for lifelong learning. 
  
• Fosters the creative mind to allow for self-expression in an art form, which helps students to understand and analyze the world around them, communicate unique ideas and feelings and build skills for critical thinking. 
  
• Creates a safe environment, where students have the freedom to think deeply and make mistakes.
• Is supported by the school community through professional development, funding, scheduling, and creating an arts culture in the school. 
  

TIMELINE:

A detailed historical timeline - click here: http://www.dipity.com/mllama4/Maine-Visual-And-performing-Arts/