The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative Website
Creating an environment in Maine where quality assessment in arts education is an integral part of the work all arts educators do to deepen student learning in the arts.
In the Fall of 2010, the Maine Department of Education launched the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI). Now underway with phase four, the Maine DOE has partnered with the Maine Arts Commission to continue to provide professional development opportunities for educators, administrators and teaching artists. The Commission's commitment to Arts Education is expressed wonderfully by Julie Richard, Executive Director:
"It is critical that every child in Maine is ensured access to a quality, comprehensive arts education - and that arts educators are given all the tools necessary to achieve that goal. We at the Maine Arts Commission are committed to strengthening arts education throughout the State through several means including the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative. So often arts educators are left out of traditional professional development opportunities - and quite often, they are the only arts teacher in their school or in their district. The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative provides arts educators the time and space to learn, share and advance arts education in this state. It is a wonderful model for the rest of the country to follow in supporting and strengthening arts education everywhere."