Res. No. 8
Resolution urging the New York City Department of Education to require that each school have a minimum of one certified arts teacher on staff, and support and expand approaches that enable small public high schools to meet this requirement.
By Council Members Lappin, Brewer, Fidler, James, Koppell, Lander, Levin, Mealy, Palma and Williams.
Whereas, A substantial body of research demonstrates that a comprehensive arts education helps students learn more effectively in other subject areas, including math, science, reading, and writing; and
Whereas, Studies indicate that arts education helps students develop additional skill sets like critical thinking, creative expression, and problem solving; and
Whereas, Research has also shown that students who are highly involved in arts programs are much less likely to drop out of school and achieve higher levels of academic success in college; and
Whereas, Although the availability of arts education throughout the New York City public school system has slightly improved in recent years, most schools still do not meet the arts requirement mandated by the New York State Education Department; and
Whereas, According to the New York City Department of Education's (DOE) 2007-2008 Annual Arts in Schools Report, 8% of elementary schools reported providing annual arts instruction in all four arts disciplines (music, visual arts, dance and theater), as required by the State, compared to 4% the previous year; and
Whereas, The DOE report also revealed than less than half of middle schools reported that all students met the State's arts requirement; and
Whereas, Approximately 30% of public schools overall did not have a certified arts teacher on staff for the 2007-2008 academic year, up from 20% the previous year, according to The Center for Arts Education; and
Whereas, The Center for Arts Education recently conducted a study on the relationship between arts education and high school graduation rates in New York City; and
Whereas, The study revealed that high schools with the highest graduation rates offered their students the most access to arts education and the most resources to support arts education, by 40% more than those high schools with the lowest graduation rates; and
Whereas, New York State only requires high school students to complete two arts courses over four years; and
Whereas, According to the DOE, 79% of high schools offered instruction in two arts disciplines, 38% in three arts forms, and 27% in all four disciplines; and
Whereas, State regulations also require that each school district offer the opportunity for high school students to complete a three- or five-unit sequence in the arts; and
Whereas, DOE reported that only 29% of high schools offered at least a three- or five-unit sequence in the arts; and
Whereas, Like middle schools, high schools are also required to provide students with arts instruction by a certified teacher, and the State recommends that those teachers be certified in the art form they are teaching; and
Whereas, According to DOE, only 69% of high schools had at least one a full-time certified arts teacher on staff for the 2007-2008 academic year, a decrease from 82% the previous year; and
Whereas, Many small public high schools find it particularly difficult to meet the State requirement of having a certified arts teacher because they do not have the resources, space, or size of student population to hire a full-time certified arts teacher on staff; and
Whereas, New York City is considered to be the cultural capital of the world; and
Whereas, Arts education, especially in New York City, should be better supported by ensuring that more certified arts teachers are available at each school, and that students receive arts instruction in all four disciplines; and
Whereas, A substantial arts component to the school curriculum can improve student academic performance and increase graduation rates; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That Council of the City of New York urges the New York City Department of Education to require that each school have a minimum of one certified arts teacher on staff, and support and expand approaches that enable small public high schools to meet this requirement.
LS #7903
11/10/09
3:15 p.m.
TC