This page lists organizations involved in the field of arts education that can be a further source of resources and tools for educators, artists, administrators, and advocates as they strive to meet their goals. Click on the organization's title to visit their website.

National Organizations

Dance Service Organizations

American College Dance Association (ACDA): The American College Dance Association exists to support and affirm dance in higher education through regional conferences, the adjudication process, and national festivals.

Dance/USA: Dance/USA is the national service organization for professional dance, serving a broad cross-section of the dance field. Established in 1982, Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations.

Dance Studies Association (DSA): The Dance Studies Association (DSA) is an international organization of dance scholars, educators, and artists that aims to strengthen the visibility and increase the reach of dance as embodied practice, creative endeavor and intellectual discipline.

The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD): The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) preserves and promotes dance by people of African ancestry or origin, and assists and increases opportunities for artists in advocacy, audience development, education, funding, networking, performance, philosophical dialogue, and touring.

International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS): IADMS's mission is to enhance health, well-being, training, and performance in dance by cultivating medical, scientific, and educational excellence.

International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA): The International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA) is a collaborative of individuals and organizations dedicated to evolving the field of Somatic Movement Education and Therapy.

National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD): Founded in 1981, the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD) is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities with approximately 83 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for dance and dance-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other dance-related endeavors.

Arts & Arts Education Organizations

American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE): AATE serves and inspires a growing collective of theatre artists, educators, and scholars committed to transforming young people and communities through the theatre arts.

Americans for the Arts: Americans for the Arts serves, advances, and leads the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America. Founded in 1960, Americans for the Arts is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.

Arts Education Partnership (AEP): The Arts Education Partnership is a national network of more than 100 organizations dedicated to advancing arts education.

Educational Theatre Association (EdTA): The Educational Theatre Association, home of the International Thespian Society and Educational Theatre Foundation, is dedicated to shaping lives through theatre education. We honor student achievement in theatre, support teachers by providing professional resources, and influence public opinion that theatre education is essential for building life skills. Explore how we accomplished our mission in 2020.

Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA): Grantmakers in the Arts is a national association of public and private arts funders - providing members with resources and leadership to support artists and arts organizations.

Harvard Project Zero: The mission of Project Zero is to understand and enhance learning, thinking and creativity for individuals and groups in the arts and other disciplines.

International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD): ICFAD strives to provide a foundation that allows arts administrators to do their jobs better and to expand their circle of contacts with people who share common challenges and experiences. We provide resources for new Deans and hone the talents of those who will be rising into leadership.

Kennedy Center Education: We exist to bring the arts to learners of all ages and abilities—in ways that spark curiosity, foster understanding, and uplift citizen artistry. We do this through replicable, evidence-based models, programs and resources—offerings that draw from the Kennedy Center’s national network of artists, partner organizations, educators, and researchers.

National Association for Music Education: National Association for Music Education (NAfME), among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers.

National Art Education Association (NAEA): Founded in 1947, the National Art Education Association is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts, design, and media arts education professionals.

National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS): The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards is an alliance of national arts and arts education organizations who formed in 2011 dedicated to the work of creating and supporting national arts standards.

National Guild for Community Arts Education: Founded in 1937, the National Guild for Community Arts Education is the sole national service organization for providers of community arts education.

State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE): State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) consists of those persons at state education agencies whose responsibility is education in the arts. SEADAE exists to support the professional effectiveness of individual members and provide a collective voice for leadership on issues affecting arts education.

VSA International Network: The VSA International Network's mission is to connect and lead a vibrant network of organizations and individuals working towards the full inclusion and participation of people with disabilities of all ages in artistic and cultural endeavors.

Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts: Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts—the flagship education program of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts—supports over 100,000 children and early childhood educators across the nation and around the world.

Young Audiences Arts for Learning: Founded in 1952, Young Audiences Arts for Learning is the nation's leading provider of arts in education programs and services. From music to media arts and storytelling to sound engineering, we believe the arts are vital to the education and social emotional development of all students.

Education Organizations

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE): AACTE, its members, and partners collaborate to revolutionize education for all learners. AACTE elevates education and educator preparation through research, professional practice, advocacy, and collaboration.

American Educational Research Association (AERA): AERA, a national research society, strives to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT): The American Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, was founded in 1916 and today represents 1.7 million members in more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide.

Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development: ASCD empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO): The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Bureau of Indian Education and the five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions.

Education Commission of the States: Education Commission of the States serves as a partner to state policymakers by providing personalized support and helping education leaders come together to learn from one another.

Education Week: Since 1981, Education Week has been America's most trusted resource for K-12 education news and information.

Education Trust: The Education Trust is a national nonprofit that works to close opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and students from low-income families.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.

National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP): The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), founded in 1921, is a professional organization serving elementary and middle school principals and other education leaders throughout the U.S., Canada, and overseas.

National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP): The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level principals, high school principals, and other school leaders across the United States.

National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE): A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, NASBE elevates state board members’ voices in national and state policymaking, facilitates the exchange of informed ideas, and supports members in advancing equity and excellence in public education for students of all races, genders, and circumstances.

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS): National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students and schools. It was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide.

National Education Association (NEA): The National Education Association (NEA) is more than 3 million people—educators, students, activists, workers, parents, neighbors, friends—who believe in the opportunity for all students and in the power of public education to transform lives and create a more just and inclusive society.

Governmental Organizations

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA): State arts agencies ensure that every community in America receives the cultural, civic, economic and educational benefits of the arts.

National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB): The National Assessment Governing Board was created by Congress in 1988 as an independent, nonpartisan board to set policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation’s Report Card.

National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP): The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) arts assessment measures students' knowledge and skills in the arts by asking them to observe, describe, analyze, and evaluate works of music and visual art and to create original works of visual art.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL): NCSL, founded in 1975, represents the legislatures in the states, territories and commonwealths of the U.S. Its mission is to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of legislatures and to foster interstate cooperation and facilitate the exchange of information among legislatures.

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): The National Endowment for the Arts supports exemplary arts projects in communities nationwide through grantmaking, initiatives, partnerships, and events.

US Department of Education: ED's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

Regional Organizations

Chicago Arts Partnership in Education (CAPE): Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education engages students, inspires teachers, and demonstrates impact by weaving visual, digital, and performing arts into classrooms across Chicago.

National A+ Schools Consortium: The National A+ Schools Consortium encompasses 4 statewide networks including North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Through the A+ model, these 4 states continue to successfully use the arts as a catalyst for transforming schools. A+ schools has continued to evolve and is nationally recognized as an effective, research-based strategy for sustainable school reform.

World Arts West: World Arts West is a San Francisco-based, nonprofit organization that supports over 450 Bay Area dance companies that are sustaining and celebrating the world’s cultural legacy.