PENNSYLVANIA — Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin recently launched PDE’s new Arts Dashboard during a visit to McKeesport High School in the McKeesport Area School District. The innovative open data portal provides an overview of the state of arts education across Pennsylvania.
The interactive dashboard allows users to see which schools provide access to arts education, the number of participating students, the count of arts teachers, and the demographic reach of arts instruction. The data can be filtered by geographic location, demographic information, and date.
“Art and music education are critical to development as they provide learners with an array of skills that lead to increased academic outcomes,” stated Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “By using data to survey the arts landscape in Pennsylvania, we will be able to make more informed policy decisions, and school communities can use this information to reflect on how they deliver arts instruction to their students.”
The Arts Dashboard, funded by PDE, is part of the National Arts Education Data Project (AEDP), a collaboration between State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) and Quadrant Research, a leader in state-level arts education data reporting.
The project aims to use data as a catalyst for changes in arts education to increase student participation nationwide. In 2022, 67.3% of students in PA public, charter, and career and technical schools were enrolled in arts courses. Additionally, 89% of students in Pennsylvania public schools had access to an arts course, with 84% of schools offering arts education.
McKeesport Area School District Superintendent Dr. Tia Wanzo praised the value of music education, saying, “The music program in our district serves as a tool for fostering creativity, discipline and teamwork. Music has a positive impact on our students’ overall development. Our school’s band has had great success in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 competitive seasons. We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments of our band. Music is a vital part of a well-rounded education, and the district is committed to continuing our support for music education in schools.”
Research from the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California shows that music education accelerates the development of auditory pathways, enhancing language and reading skills. It also improves school readiness skills including intellectual and social-emotional processing, motor skills, language development, and overall literacy.
Mark Despotakis, Director of Public and Government Affairs at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, emphasized the role of data in decision-making. He said, “The launch of a statewide arts education data system allows us to get a better understanding of what access to music and arts education in Pennsylvania looks like. This data will only serve to strengthen our work to make sure that every child in Pennsylvania has the chance to learn and grow with music and the arts. The dashboard allows us to look at access through micro and macro lenses and we will be able to better understand where access deficiencies exist and why. That understanding will help to inform better decision making.”
In Pennsylvania, students in grades K-12 are required to receive instruction in all four arts disciplines: dance, music, theater, and visual arts. Each art form fulfills a different human need for expression and response to life experiences. Local school districts are responsible for developing curricula for these subjects.
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