In Maine, how schools implement standards is entirely a local decision. The Maine Department of Education has compiled the following state and national resources that educators may find helpful as part of our commitment to supporting Maine's learning community.
Policy Resources
- Every Student Suceeds Act (ESSA). President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law in 2015 to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 and replace key requirements of the outdated No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Education took the first steps to implement ESSA.
- Maine ESSA Website. Over the next year as Maine transitions from No Child Left behnd to ESSA content on this website will be updated so check back regularly.
- ESSA and Arts Education website. The Maine DOE has created this page to better inform Maine's Visual and Performing Arts teachers on the changes in the laws in regard to the Arts.
State Resources
- Professional Arts Education State Organizations. These state professional organizations offer content specific resources and information to educators and the general public specific to visual and performing arts education.
- Andrew Wyeth Day. In 2009, the Maine State Legislature passed--and Governor John Baldacci signed--An Act to Designate July 12th as Wyeth Day in recognition of the birthday of Andrew Wyeth, one of America’s great artists. In accordance with the legislation, the Maine DOE has made information available to the people and schools of Maine.
- Gifted & Talented. As part of the establishment of gifted and talented programs, opportunities must be provided for students with exceptional abilities in the visual and performing arts. Chapter 104 was established to ensure that educational programs are created and implemented for gifted and talented students in each district.
- Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI). The Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) is committed to the development of teacher leaders to ensure deep understanding and meaningful implementation of high quality teaching, learning, and assessment in the arts.
- Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston. The Lunder Foundation of Portland has endowed the Lunder Maine Student Membership Program at the MFA. The program allows Maine students of all ages in public and private school, as well as those who are home-schooled, to visit the MFA free of charge. This gift represents the Lunder Foundation’s commitment to education and to the people of Maine, and it is a meaningful endorsement of the MFA as one of the world’s great encyclopedic art museums. All elementary, middle and high school principals and teachers should be aware of this opportunity. Any school group leader can visit the MFA’s website to request a visit. Learn more about this opportunity.
- Open Educational Resources (OERs). Maine Alliance for Arts Education was awarded a grant to support the identification and to encourage the use of OERs in the visual and performing arts. The OERs that the team of arts educators identified are linked to the Maine Learning Results and include a variety of resources including lesson plans, student interactives, tutorials for arts-based tools, videos and more.
- Portland Museum of Art. The PMA strives to enrich the lives of people through acquisition, preservation, and interpretation of the visual arts and the Museum's architecturally significant buildings.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math (STEAM) Education. State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) has provided a webinar titled "Putting the A for Arts in STEM." It was facilitated by SEADAE member Scot Hockman, visual and performing arts specialist at the South Carolina Department of Education, and his colleague, Christine Fisher of ABC Schools.
- The University of Maine Museum of Art (UMMA) - Take advantage of the extensive educational offerings the Museum collection has to offer! With over 40 exhibits to choose from, there is a huge variety of content that can meet and supplement your curriculum objectives. Kat Johnson, Senior Museum Educator, is available to come to your classroom to work on-site with your students, at no cost to the school. All units include artist bios, glossaries and supplemental educational materials. Schedule your visit today! Schedule a field trip to the University of Maine Museum of Art - Your gallery tour will be hosted by a professional museum educator and may include gallery and studio activities.
National Resources
- Arts Education Partnership. This coalition serves as the nation’s hub for individuals and organizations committed to making high-quality arts education accessible to all U.S. students, improving arts education practice and researching how art influences American education.
- Bloom's Taxonomy. During the 1990s, Benjamin Bloom’s Taxonomy was revised and placed “Creating” at the top of the pyramid.
- National Coalition for Core Arts Standards. A partnership of organizations and states have worked to produce new, national voluntary arts education standards.
- National Endowment for the Arts. The National Endowment for the Arts extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders and other federal agencies.
- Partnership for 21st Century. Maine is one of the member states of this national organization that advocates for 21st-century readiness for every student.
- 21st Century Skills Arts Map. This map is a result of hundreds of hours of research, development and feedback from educators and business leaders across the nation.
- SEADAE. Supports the professional effectiveness of individual members and provides a collective voice for leadership on issues affecting arts education.