New York State Instructional Requirements For the Arts
Summary of Arts Education Instructional Requirements and Guidelines for Schools and Students in New York State¹
Pre-K - K
State Requirements and Guidelines
Each school operating a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten program shall establish and provide an educational program based on and adapted to the ages, interests, and needs of the children. Learning activities in such programs shall include dramatic play, creative art and music activities.
Each school operating a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten program shall establish and provide an educational program based on and adapted to the ages, interests, and needs of the children. Learning activities in such programs shall include dramatic play, creative art and music activities.
Grades 1-6
NYSED Requirements Grades 1-6During grades 1 through 6, all students shall receive instruction that is designed to facilitate their attainment of the State elementary learning standards in the arts, including dance, music, theater, and visual arts.
- NYSED Guidelines recommend that in grades 1 through 3, 20 percent of the weekly time spent in school should be allocated to dance, music, theater, and visual arts. This is the equivalent of 186 hours equally allocated to all four arts forms throughout the entire school year.
- NYSED Guidelines recommend that in grades 4, 5, and 6, 10 percent of the weekly time spent in school should be allocated to dance, music, theater, and visual arts. This is the equivalent of 93 hours equally allocated to all four arts forms throughout the entire school year.
Grades 7-8
NYSED Requirements Grades 7-8All students shall be provided instruction designed to enable them to achieve, by the end of grade 8, State intermediate learning standards in the arts, including one half-unit of study in the visual arts and one half-unit of study in music. In New York City, one-half unit is equivalent to approximately 55 hours of instruction delivered by an instructor certified in the subject area they are teaching.
New York City has received a variance to allow schools to offer any two of the four arts disciplines to their students to fulfill the grades 7-8 requirement.
Grades 9-12
NYSED Requirements Grades 9-12New York State graduation requirements for the arts include one unit in the arts (dance, theater, visual arts, and/or music). One unit is defined as 180 minutes per week throughout the school year, or the equivalent. In New York City, two credits is the equivalent of one unit.
High schools have the option of fulfilling the graduation requirement by either offering ½ unit of credit in both visual arts and music or 1 unit of credit in one of the four art forms. Instruction is to be delivered by an instructor certified in the subject area they are teaching.
Availability of Arts Sequences
A public school district shall offer students the opportunity to complete a three- or five-unit sequence in the arts (music, dance, theater, or visual arts).
A public school district shall offer students the opportunity to complete a three- or five-unit sequence in the arts (music, dance, theater, or visual arts).
¹ The State Requirements & Guidelines listed are derived from the Summary of the Arts Provisions and New York State Standards, Provisions in the Part 100 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education (C.R. 100.3). Requirements have the force and effect of law. Guidelines are provided as recommendations and should not be interpreted as requirements.
For more information contact: Doug Israel, Director of Research and Policy, CAE
doug@caenyc.org or (212) 971-3300, x304
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