In response to parents' concerns over VPA programing cuts in the 2019-21 school years, work began in 2021-22 to to improve and revamp the district's approach. RPS administrators, teachers, and advocates have been working hard, redesigning the curriculum, designing art pathways, creating K-12 unity and continuity, building leadership and collegiality amongst staff, providing more "assured experiences" (provided to any child who wishes to participate), and enrichment opportunities. They are working to find ways to integrate visual art and STEAM opportunities across the school day and include more instructional minutes in these areas, where possible. Watch all the details here (25:42 running time) and browse the various pages of this website to learn more. You can also follow #qualityart4rps on Facebook. If you'd like to take a very deep dive, check out this play-by-play list of what has been done to date!

DID YOU KNOW?

Visual Art education has changed significantly in the past several decades. Just as you may say "that's not how I learned math," the same could be said of the new approach to visual art instruction. There has been a shift away from medium- and technique- based instruction (how to paint or make ceramics) to empowering students to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their creative goals across techniques, as well as understand the greater historical or cultural context. This is called "Voice and Choice." Students learn the fundamental concepts behind visual creativity and literacy, then apply them to envisioning their own ideas. This provides students with the knoweldge they need to think outside of the box and use their abilities to solve visual problems in our increasingly image-based society. It hones and expands their approach in other subject areas and enhances expansive thinking. There is also increased focus on uses of digital creative tools, in keeping with 21st century developments in 2D and 3D technologies for drawing, drafting, illustration, video editing, and photographic manipulation.