K-12 Curriculum (1999-00 to 2007-08 period)

• The "test-based accountability of No Child Left Behind (NCLB; 2002-2015) increased instruction in tested subject areas reading and math, leading to reductions in arts education."
• The art education levels prior to the NCLB (1999-00) and 5 years post its introduction (2007-08) have been compared.
• "The percentage of music educators teaching in public secondary schools was reduced from 5.56% to 3.24%, a decline of 41.6% during the period."
• There was a 4% decline in the total number of music courses taught in the period, from 177,831 to 170,735.
• "The level of visual art educators also significantly decreased during this era, from 3.95% to 3.15%, a 20.3% reduction."
• There was a less than 1% decline in the total number of visual arts courses taught in the period, from 167,066 to 165,951.
• "According to a nationally representative survey administered to visual arts educators in 2008—including those who work in public secondary schools—68% of survey respondents reported that visual arts staffing was unchanged during the NCLB era and 65% reported that their teaching loads remained unchanged. Yet evidence from educators in Ohio suggests that fewer visual arts classes were being taught."

Newspaper Coverage

•  80% of all arts writers in print lost their jobs between 2000-2017.

Summary

• The NCLB was introduced in 2002. The impact of the NCLB on arts education is measured five years from its date of introduction (2007-08).
• The proportion of visual arts teachers and music arts teachers in public secondary schools decreased by 20.3% and 41.6%, respectively, in the period 1999-00 to 2007-08.
•  Only 20% of all art writers in print retained their jobs in the period 2000-2017.