Visual Arts Standards PK through Grade Twelve
California Arts Standards for Visual Arts Grade TK-Twelve
The CAS for Visual Arts, adopted in 2019, provide a blueprint for students to achieve visual arts literacy. The performance standards describe expectations for learning in the visual arts without prescribing specific styles or genres. Access the full standards document here. The visual arts standards are on pages 199- 226.
California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations
While the California Arts Education Framework provides guidance for teaching visual arts in pre kindergarten, California PK/TK Learning Foundations (CA PTKLF) for Visual and Performing Arts provides guidance for teaching theatre to three-to-five-and-a-half-year-old children. See the California Arts Education Framework (page xi) for guidance about when to use the CAS and when to use the CA PTKLF.
Spotlight on Visual Arts Education
- Re-imagine Your Focus Through Art Therapy (video, 10 minutes) features the one.Cruikshank Court School in San Joaquin County and the work of a local artist to turn the Juvenile Justice Center’s walls into a canvas for students’ imaginations. The immersive art therapy program allows students to exercise their emotions in a therapeutic way. A written summary of the effort is available here.
- Sacramento County Office of Education: Empowering and Inspiring Students Through Arts Education spotlights the Sacramento County Office of Education’s unique visual art programs for youth in SCOE schools.
Professional Learning
Professional Organizations
The California Art Education Association and the National Art Education Association offer a “professional home” for existing and aspiring visual arts educators. A variety of resources are available to both members and non-members of these organizations.
Creativity at the Core Modules
Creativity at the Core Professional Learning Modules
- Teaching Visual Arts in Connection with History/Social Studies for grades K-12 provides a model for integrating Visual Arts and History Social Science, and includes six integrated units that meet the rigor of Visual Art and History/Social Science standards.
- Creative Health and Wellbeing Through Visual Art: A Social-Emotional Approach to Learning equips educators and administrators with the skills, tools, knowledge, and self-confidence to promote students’ creative health and well-being through visual arts. Drawing upon the principles outlined in the Studio Habits of Mind, the module offers ten visual art projects aligned with California Arts standards and SEL core competencies for students in grades PK through 12, and one visual art project for educators.
