National Art Standards
National Standards for Arts Education
The standards were developed by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations, through a grant administered by The National Association for Music Education (NAfME). The National Standards for Arts Education is a document which outlines basic arts learning outcomes integral to the comprehensive K–12 education of every American student. The Consortium published the National Standards in 1994. Grades K–4 Content Standard 1
Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Grades K–4 Content Standard 1a
Students know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
Grades K–4 Content Standard 1b
Students describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses
Grades K–4 Content Standard 1c
Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories
Grades K–4 Content Standard 1d
Students use art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner
Grades K–4 Content Standard 2
Using knowledge of structures and functions
Grades K–4 Content Standard 2a
Students know the differences among visual characteristics and purposes of art in order to convey ideas
Grades K–4 Content Standard 2b
Students describe how different expressive features and organizational principles cause different responses
Grades K–4 Content Standard 2c
Students use visual structures and functions of art to communicate ideas
Grades K–4 Content Standard 3
Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
Grades K–4 Content Standard 3a
Students explore and understand prospective content for works of art
Grades K–4 Content Standard 3b
Students select and use subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning
Grades K–4 Content Standard 4
Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures
Grades K–4 Content Standard 4a
Students know that the visual arts have both a history and specific relationships to various cultures
Grades K–4 Content Standard 4b
Students identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places
Grades K–4 Content Standard 4c
Students demonstrate how history, culture, and the visual arts can influence each other in making and studying works of art
Grades K–4 Content Standard 5
Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
Grades K–4 Content Standard 5a
Students understand there are various purposes for creating works of visual art
Grades K–4 Content Standard 5b
Students describe how people's experiences influence the development of specific artworks
Grades K–4 Content Standard 5c
Students understand there are different responses to specific artworks
Grades K–4 Content Standard 6
Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
Grades K–4 Content Standard 6a
Students understand and use similarities and differences between characteristics of the visual arts and other arts disciplines
Grades K–4 Content Standard 6b
Students identify connections between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 1
Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 1a
Students select media, techniques, and processes; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of their choices
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 1b
Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 2
Using knowledge of structures and functions
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 2a
Students generalize about the effects of visual structures and functions and reflect upon these effects in their own work
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 2b
Students employ organizational structures and analyze what makes them effective or not effective in the communication of ideas
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 2c
Students select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of their ideas
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 3
Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 3a
Students integrate visual, spatial, and temporal concepts with content to communicate intended meaning in their artworks
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 3b
Students use subjects, themes, and symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics that communicate intended meaning in artworks
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 4
Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 4a
Students know and compare the characteristics of artworks in various eras and cultures
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 4b
Students describe and place a variety of art objects in historical and cultural contexts
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 4c
Students analyze, describe, and demonstrate how factors of time and place (such as climate, resources, ideas, and technology) influence visual characteristics that give meaning and value to a work of art
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 5
Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 5a
Students compare multiple purposes for creating works of art
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 5b
Students analyze contemporary and historic meanings in specific artworks through cultural and aesthetic inquiry
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 5c
Students describe and compare a variety of individual responses to their own artworks and to artworks from various eras and cultures
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 6
Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 6a
Students compare the characteristics of works in two or more art forms that share similar subject matter, historical periods, or cultural context
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 6b
Students describe ways in which the principles and subject matter of other disciplines taught in the school are interrelated with the visual arts
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 1
Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 2
Using knowledge of structures and functions
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 3
Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 4
Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 5
Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 6
Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
State Standards for Arts Education
Most states have developed (or are developing) standards in the arts. The Arts Education State Policy Database contains the latest information on arts education state policies and practices.
The standards were developed by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations, through a grant administered by The National Association for Music Education (NAfME). The National Standards for Arts Education is a document which outlines basic arts learning outcomes integral to the comprehensive K–12 education of every American student. The Consortium published the National Standards in 1994. Grades K–4 Content Standard 1
Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Grades K–4 Content Standard 1a
Students know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes
Grades K–4 Content Standard 1b
Students describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses
Grades K–4 Content Standard 1c
Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories
Grades K–4 Content Standard 1d
Students use art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner
Grades K–4 Content Standard 2
Using knowledge of structures and functions
Grades K–4 Content Standard 2a
Students know the differences among visual characteristics and purposes of art in order to convey ideas
Grades K–4 Content Standard 2b
Students describe how different expressive features and organizational principles cause different responses
Grades K–4 Content Standard 2c
Students use visual structures and functions of art to communicate ideas
Grades K–4 Content Standard 3
Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
Grades K–4 Content Standard 3a
Students explore and understand prospective content for works of art
Grades K–4 Content Standard 3b
Students select and use subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning
Grades K–4 Content Standard 4
Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures
Grades K–4 Content Standard 4a
Students know that the visual arts have both a history and specific relationships to various cultures
Grades K–4 Content Standard 4b
Students identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places
Grades K–4 Content Standard 4c
Students demonstrate how history, culture, and the visual arts can influence each other in making and studying works of art
Grades K–4 Content Standard 5
Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
Grades K–4 Content Standard 5a
Students understand there are various purposes for creating works of visual art
Grades K–4 Content Standard 5b
Students describe how people's experiences influence the development of specific artworks
Grades K–4 Content Standard 5c
Students understand there are different responses to specific artworks
Grades K–4 Content Standard 6
Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
Grades K–4 Content Standard 6a
Students understand and use similarities and differences between characteristics of the visual arts and other arts disciplines
Grades K–4 Content Standard 6b
Students identify connections between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 1
Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 1a
Students select media, techniques, and processes; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of their choices
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 1b
Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 2
Using knowledge of structures and functions
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 2a
Students generalize about the effects of visual structures and functions and reflect upon these effects in their own work
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 2b
Students employ organizational structures and analyze what makes them effective or not effective in the communication of ideas
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 2c
Students select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of their ideas
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 3
Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 3a
Students integrate visual, spatial, and temporal concepts with content to communicate intended meaning in their artworks
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 3b
Students use subjects, themes, and symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics that communicate intended meaning in artworks
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 4
Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 4a
Students know and compare the characteristics of artworks in various eras and cultures
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 4b
Students describe and place a variety of art objects in historical and cultural contexts
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 4c
Students analyze, describe, and demonstrate how factors of time and place (such as climate, resources, ideas, and technology) influence visual characteristics that give meaning and value to a work of art
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 5
Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 5a
Students compare multiple purposes for creating works of art
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 5b
Students analyze contemporary and historic meanings in specific artworks through cultural and aesthetic inquiry
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 5c
Students describe and compare a variety of individual responses to their own artworks and to artworks from various eras and cultures
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 6
Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 6a
Students compare the characteristics of works in two or more art forms that share similar subject matter, historical periods, or cultural context
Grades 5–8 Content Standard 6b
Students describe ways in which the principles and subject matter of other disciplines taught in the school are interrelated with the visual arts
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 1
Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 2
Using knowledge of structures and functions
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 3
Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 4
Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 5
Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
Grades 9–12 Content Standard 6
Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
State Standards for Arts Education
Most states have developed (or are developing) standards in the arts. The Arts Education State Policy Database contains the latest information on arts education state policies and practices.