National Endowment for the Arts Awards the National Dance Education Organization a $67,000 Matching Grant for "State/National Initiatives for Dance Education" (FY2000-2002)

The NEA project ($67,000) was developed in response to numerous states requesting technical assistance from the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) to: (1) get dance in schools; and (2) improve the quality of dance that exists in schools. The project supports a pilot program (NDEO State/National Initiative for Dance Education) that spans two years (May 1, 2000 - April 30, 2002).

The program provides technical assistance to no more than 4 pilot states so they can meet state goals in dance arts education through addressing specific issues and goals unique to their state. "Technical assistance" includes helping states develop, review, and implement at state and local school district levels: content standards in dance education; curriculum, curricular frameworks, and assessments in dance; state standards for teacher preparation; methods to achieve state certification/licensure and professional preparation programs; in-service programs; and to help states develop a 3-5 year master plan designed to change policy and outcome for dance education within their state over 3-5 years.

The NDEO also serves as a facilitator in this project as it works the states through a six-phase plan of action and NDEO leaves a State Task Force in Dance Education in place to implement the 3-5 year State Master Plan of action developed by the state with assistance from NDEO. Needs and goals differ among states; yet, many commonalities exist across the nation. The goal is to develop a "model" that is replicable by other states in the U.S.

The pilot will be extremely well documented and evaluated with the assistance of an outside education researcher. Data will be collected at the macro level (status of dance education in pilot states) to the micro level (re: implementing a teacher training institute over two years measuring program effectiveness on teaching and learning among teachers, students, and control groups. Various research methods will be used over the two years that include: state pre- post testing of students, action research, descriptive research, and portfolio assessment. Data will be made available to person in, or associated with, arts education (administrators, teachers, and dance/arts educators) and federal and state agencies. The two-year study will be evaluated, revised, and presented to the NEA and U.S. Dept of Education as a plausible national initiative to be replicable by other states so they too may better achieve their state goals in dance and arts education.

Pilot States

At the present time, Maine and Colorado will serve as pilot states demographically representing rural states east and west which do not have dance teacher certification nor state mandates to include the arts in K-12 education. Maryland will serve as a more metropolitan state that requires dance teacher certification and mandates arts education in K-12, but the mandate is not fully implemented. Maryland has granted $200,000 (through Towson University) to integrate dance in Maryland schools and improve the quality of what exists in schools. NDEO and Towson University will work together to document and evaluate this implementation phase to support Phases IV, V, and VI of the original NDEO grant proposal to the NEA.