Dance assessment and national standards: 1994--2002

This thesis puts forward the hypothesis that dance education can be assessed as a core subject in K--12 curriculum. Educational theorists have provided significant writings that make the case for the inclusion of the arts in education. John Dewey, Howard Gardner, and Elliot Eisner each emphasize the importance of the arts in school curriculum. In the Goals 2000: Educate America Act of 1994, the United States Congress recognized visual arts, music, theatre and dance as core subjects to be taught in schools. This thesis examines the standing of dance education in reference to assessment. The National Standards for Arts Education and the National Assessment of Educational Progress provide clear, detailed assessment guidelines to use when evaluating dance classes. These are examined and discussed particularly in reference to the National Assessment for Educational Progress arts assessment in 1997.