The Rhode Island Music Education Association (RIMEA) calls on the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and the Council of Elementary and Secondary Education to prioritize arts education in its revision to new state graduation requirements. 

The arts are vital to the education of K-12 students, not only for their intrinsic value, but for the advantages that result from involvement: increased attendance, higher graduation rates, improved family involvement, and higher scores in other non-art academic areas. Every Rhode Island student deserves a comprehensive, standards-based arts education.

There is a tendency by school leaders to view the arts as not important enough to include in local regulations in the same way as other academic subjects, clearly evidenced in the secondary school requirements. PreK-12 education must include a comprehensive, standards-based arts education for every child in every school. Our students deserve nothing less.

RIMEA is requesting that the proposed Revision of Secondary Graduation Requirements:

1. Clearly require at least one full credit in arts coursework in high school for all students.
2. Clearly define “arts proficiency”, including specific definitions and examples of arts proficiency.
3. Remove the concept of flex credits from the regulations, or specify that flex credits cannot take the place of any standalone mandated minimum academic credits.  

RIMEA also recommends that RIDE hire a full-time art content specialist to work with schools to ensure students are meeting the National Core Arts Standards and the RI Basic Education Plan.

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