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Q&A
Challenges in middle schools meeting arts education requirements
2:11:40
ยท
4 min
Council Member Rita Joseph highlights the low percentage of eighth-grade students meeting state requirements for arts instruction. Paul Thompson explains the challenges middle schools face in meeting these requirements and the current state of arts education in middle schools.
- Only 31% of eighth-grade students met the state requirement for two semesters of arts instruction in two disciplines.
- Staffing issues and teacher pool size are major challenges for middle schools in meeting arts education requirements.
- While 91.2% of students receive two units in one discipline, this still doesn't meet the state mandate for two different disciplines.
Rita Joseph
2:11:40
Because in 2023, the data arts report found that only thirty one percent of eighth grade students met New York State required for two semesters of arts instruction in two disciplines.
2:11:52
What challenges are middle schools facing in meeting their requirements and how does New York City plan New York City Public School plan to address that?
Paul Thompson
2:12:01
So this is this is a thorny subject I've loved to embrace in my time at the arts office now.
2:12:09
So first, it is important to clarify that the state of the state requirements.
2:12:14
So under New York State regulations, students in grades seven and eight must receive two half units of study in the arts equaling about a hundred and eight hours.
2:12:24
The instruction is to occur across two different disciplines.
2:12:28
Right?
2:12:28
So it is the first time in a student's trajectory where there is actually a specific designation that you experience two different disciplines and get credits in those disciplines.
2:12:41
The struggle here is is there there's a few, but I would argue one of the biggest ones is just the larger staffing.
2:12:50
Right?
2:12:50
So just the teacher pool size.
2:12:52
Right?
2:12:53
Because in a middle school, in those two grades, a principal is making a decision around who they staff.
2:12:59
And so you're making decisions around, do I have two arts teachers to ensure that I'm making sure that these students are getting two different ones?
2:13:08
And what we're finding in most instances is that schools really struggle to do that.
2:13:12
But with that said, it is true.
2:13:16
31% of students are receiving the two units, but ninety one point two are receiving the two units in one discipline.
2:13:24
So it is not it is certainly doesn't meet the state mandate, but it is also to say that students aren't going without art.
2:13:33
And so one of the things that we do again is to put our hands in the dirt and really get in there with principals so that they understand like, hey, this is a state that like, not only is this a state mandate, right, that is very important, but also let us really think about like what does your data look like?
2:13:52
How is your literacy looking like?
2:13:54
What are some of the problems that you think the arts might help mitigate or solve?
2:13:59
How do you get more parents in the building?
2:14:00
How do you fix a problem with showing up students showing up late for first period?
2:14:05
Is there a way in which we can work with you that the arts can be embedded in your core instructional mission to help move these things along?
2:14:13
And so this is just one byproduct of of really how we're working to to mitigate this problem, but it is it is a real one.
Rita Joseph
2:14:24
The data is saying it's a real problem, and that's why we're talking and seeing how we can fix it.
2:14:32
And middle school is important.
2:14:34
I don't know, Ms.
2:14:35
Joyce Bradford was my music teacher in middle school and I still remember that.
2:14:40
I can't Joyce, I didn't remember my art teacher but I do remember Ms.
2:14:44
Joyce Bradford.
2:14:46
As you mentioned it, you just mentioned that you had to get put your hand in the dirt and get down with the teachers.
2:14:51
Are we doing that across the city to like roll up our sleeves and be like listen, we have to do this.
2:14:56
This is mandatory.
2:14:57
It's not an option and we keep saying that, right?
2:15:00
The arts should not be an option just like social emotional learning should not be just on the side.
2:15:06
It should be embedded in our everything that New York City Students do.
2:15:10
The arts is everything that can change the trajectory trajectory of a young person.
2:15:18
And that's why I even asked you if if you are involved in d seventy nine our students who are criminal justice involved because art could change.
Paul Thompson
2:15:27
Absolutely.
2:15:28
And I sit here as evidence of that.
2:15:31
My own life story is really centered in this idea of what the arts can do for someone.
2:15:40
So I'm in full agreement with what you're saying.