Under the provisions of Act 1506 of 2001, every public elementary school student shall by June 1, 2002, receive at least 40 minutes of instruction each week in visual art or music, based on the Fine Arts Frameworks. By June 1, 2005, instruction must be provided for at least one hour each week. All students in grades 1-6 shall receive instruction in visual art and music, including children with disabilities or other special needs.
The instruction required under this statute may be provided by a volunteer or by a certified teacher prior to June 1, 2005. Thereafter, the instruction shall be provided by licensed teacher who is certified to teach art or music, as applicable.
Please note that nothing in Act 1506 of 2001 nullifies the requirement under the STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION to provide instruction in music and visual arts to kindergarten students.
The Arkansas Department of Education is implementing a pilot program, as required under the statute, which will permit students in grades eleven (11) and twelve (12) to provide visual art and music instruction to students in grades K-6.