New York Mayor Signs Bill to Reveal Which Schools Meet Arts Education Requirement

On December 17, Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed Intro 925 into law. This law will require the Department of Education to provide detailed reporting on the provision of state instructional requirements for the arts in city public schools and will not only help inform education policy-makers, but will also provide parents, students and the public with the knowledge to make informed decisions and advocate for resources to be provided for their schools.

According to Doug Israel, Director of Research and Policy for the Center for Arts Education, “The arts are an essential component to improving educational outcomes, and this legislation will be key to meeting our goal to ensure every child has adequate access to arts education. We thank Mayor Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Education Chair Robert Jackson, and the entire New York City Council for their leadership on this issue.”

CAE looks forward to continuing to work with partners in government, parents, and allies across the city to improve and expand the opportunities that students are provided to participate in music, theater, dance and the arts. As we head into 2014, this bill can provide momentum — and critical data — to the growing effort to ensure that city students have access to a rich and engaging curriculum that will help them succeed in college and career.

Read about the bill on Gotham Schools.