Educating with the arts : how art education policy impacts educational outcomes

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of art education policy on educational outcomes. While past literature focuses on how art in the classroom can raise individual test scores, this research takes a broader look at how policies impact outcomes on a state by state basis. The first part of the study uses OLS regression to estimate the effects of art policies on reading, math, and science standardized test scores. The results show that individual policies, as well as the total number of policies, have significant effects on the test scores. The second part compares the graduation and attendance rates, Academic Performance Index scores, and A-F Grades of Oklahoma schools that are OKA+ against those that are not. The results illustrate that while there was no significant difference between the two in A-F Grades, schools that prioritize art education do have higher graduation and attendance rates, as well as higher Academic Performance Index scores. Overall, this research provides evidence that enactment of art education policies state-wide can produce positive educational outcomes.