UCO Presents Arts Education Perception Survey Results

August 14, 2006

The Oklahoma Center for Arts Education (OCAE) at the University of Central Oklahoma has released comprehensive findings from its groundbreaking arts education perceptions survey, which was conducted by the organization over the past two years.

The main findings from the survey of nearly ten thousand people showed that both rural and urban participants believe that Oklahoma does not provide enough funding and supplies for art education programs.

In addition, a majority of those responding felt that Oklahoma lawmakers do not put enough value on arts education. Participants believed that arts education should have the same amount of time devoted to it as other core subjects, and that it should be mandated as part of the core curriculum.

Lawmakers who responded to the survey did not believe arts education should have the same amount of time devoted to it as other core curriculum. However, they did agree that the state does not provide appropriate funding for arts education.

Executive Director for the Oklahoma Center for Arts Education and Interim Dean of the UCO College of Arts, Media & Design, Dr. John Clinton, said the first of its kind survey revealed some strengths, as well as areas of concern for arts education in Oklahoma.

“From our survey results, it appears parents and teachers have a significant and positive belief in the importance of arts education,” Clinton said.

“But the perceptual gap between those who are working daily with students and those who are making policies appears to be very broad.”

State Superintendent of Education, Sandy Garrett, said the survey shows Oklahoma has room for improvement.

“The Arts Education Perception Survey is insightful and represents an enlightened call to action. Although including the arts in Oklahoma’s core curriculum was a step forward, we still must go further,” Garrett said.

House Bill 1017 mandated that, beginning in 1993, visual arts and general music be included as part of the core curriculum in Oklahoma, but the bill did not require that districts have a separate class for arts instruction.

Many in the arts community say the reality is that many districts don’t place a priority on arts education because they don’t have the space or funds necessary to teach the discipline.
“For arts education to be truly mandated as a discipline of the core curriculum—funding, time, assessment and accessibility should be consistent for each required field of study,” said Betty Price, longtime director of the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Nearly ten thousand people from 120 randomly selected elementary schools participated in the arts perception survey. School administrators, parents, legislators, business leaders, school board members and educators/teachers took part.

The survey results are being shown to participating schools as a tool to create awareness of these current perceptions and to be available for reference when evaluating their curriculum and budget.

Page updated 8/14/06