About

MPS Mission: Minneapolis Public Schools exists to provide a high quality, anti-racist, culturally responsive education for every Minneapolis student

MPS Vision:  All students -- regardless of their background, zip code, and personal needs -- will receive an anti-racist, holistic education that builds essential knowledge to prepare students for future success.

Arts Purpose: For all students to learn in and through the arts.  Students will apply the  artistic process of creating, performing/presenting, responding, and connecting in relevant and culturally sustaining contexts in order to become artistically  literate. 

Rationale: Arts instruction is an essential component of a well rounded education. All students must have the opportunity to engage in learning in and through the arts on a daily basis. Quality arts education promotes student engagement, academic achievement, and the opportunity to bring the whole school community together.  The arts provide opportunities for all students to make meaning in and of themselves, their communities, and the world around them.

Policy Impacting the Arts Education in Minnesota

MDE REQUIREMENTS: 

1. Minnesota State Statute 120B.021 requires that arts standards are mandatory for all students, K-12. 

2. Elementary and middle schools require that students must be offered at least three and required to meet the state standards and benchmarks in two arts areas. The five arts areas are Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.

   • K-6th grade: Teacher must have the appropriate arts license or elementary generalist license (For elementary generalists: recommended no more than part time; if exceeding part time obtaining an out-of-field permission (OFP) is recommended.) (Professional Educator Standards and Licensing Board, (PELSB)) 

   • 7-8th grade: Teacher must have the appropriate arts license. (PELSB) 

3. Elementary and middle school students must meet all state arts standards and benchmarks at each grade level in two arts areas. The five arts areas are Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts. (Minn. Stat. 120A.22 [2023], Minn. Stat. 120B.021 [2023]).

4. High school students must earn 1 arts credit sufficient to satisfy all the state arts standards. Students must be offered at least 3 and required to meet the standards and benchmarks, at each grade level, in at least one arts area. The five arts areas are Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts

   • To successfully achieve the amount of learning described in the benchmarks of each arts area, MDE recommends that the credit be in a year-long course in a single arts area. 

   • A Career and Technical Education (CTE) course may count:

     • All of the following must be in place for Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses that count for arts credit (Minn. Stat. 120B.024 [2023], Minn. Rule 3505.1150): 

       • Teacher must have a license in CTE. 

       • Teacher must have passed the relevant arts Minnesota Teacher License Examination (MTLE)/licensure test. 

       • For media arts courses, districts are encouraged to use the visual arts MTLE. 

       • The district must ensure that the CTE course meets all standards and benchmarks in an arts area.

MPS REQUIREMENTS: 

• K - 5: Students must receive at minimum two of the five art areas (dance, theater, music, visual, media arts).  At minimum, it is recommended that students receive 55 minutes of instruction per art area per week or any other scheduling configuration that equates to a similar amount of time. See elementary scheduling guidelines. 

• 6 - 8: Students must receive two fine art classes every year and have access to at least three art forms (dance, theater, music, visual, media arts). 

• 9 - 12: Students are required to take 2 semesters of Fine Arts courses from the five arts areas (dance, theater, music, visual, media arts) in order to meet MPS and state graduation requirements.  

• All students should receive standards aligned (2018 MN Academic Standards) curriculum and instruction.