Visual Arts Education

Latest Information for Visual Arts Education

Updated Family and Community Guides for the Visual and Performing Arts

The recently updated standards in the visual and performing arts (dance, drama and theatre arts, music, and visual arts) have also updated the corresponding family and community guides. These guides are websites that are organized by grade level to summarize learning in these content areas.

2022 Revised Standards in Additional Formats

The revised Colorado Academic Standards for visual and performing arts have been updated to additional formats for teachers to use in their planning and organization for standards-based instruction. The alternative formats include comma-separated values (CSV), Microsoft Excel, Markdown/plain text, and a highly-accessible, simplified Microsoft Word format. These updated files can be found on the Visual Arts standards linked below.

Family and Community Guides

Colorado Academic Standards: Visual Arts

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Academic Standards

Exploration of visual arts and design processes is about invention, creation, and innovation. Building on the development of ideas through a process of inquiry, discovery, and research leads to the creation of works of art, and, whether using traditional materials or the latest technologies, prepares students to be independent, lifelong learners. Participation in the visual arts provides students with unique experiences and skills that develop important traits for success in the 21st century workforce. Studying art and design involves inquiry, posing and solving problems, perseverance, re-purposing, taking risks, and persuading and inspiring.

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Curriculum Support

Article IX, Section 16 of Colorado's constitution states, "Neither the general assembly nor the state board of education shall have power to prescribe textbooks to be used in the public schools." However, CDE can still serve as an advisor to help districts and schools adopt, adapt, develop, or use the materials of their choice.

District Sample Curriculum Project

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Instructional Support

Suggested text is something like: Instructional support is grounded in CDE's shared approach to Best, First Instruction as well as practices and strategies supported by professional organizations and scholars at the leading edge of Visual Arts education.

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Community

There are many opportunities to connect and grow as a professional educator with the larger Visual Arts education community, including mailing lists, professional organizations, and events.

Keeping up with Visual Arts Education in Colorado

For further assistance, please contact:

Lindsay Latva
Visual Arts Consultant
latva_l@cde.state.co.us