Your Voice Matters in Pennsylvania’s Arts and Humanities Standards

The State Board of Education’s Academic Standards/Chapter 4 Committee has completed its initial review of the updated Arts Standards and is now seeking feedback from stakeholders across the Commonwealth. Public hearings will be held to gather input, and written comments are also being accepted. As educators and leaders in the arts, you have a vital role in shaping these standards to support the future of arts learning for all Pennsylvania students.

Information about the revision process, committee membership, and background materials is available on the State Board of Education’s Current Initiatives and Regulations webpage. This resource also includes a link to the Recommendations for Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Arts. The recommendations can be viewed by standard ID code, and a convenient discipline-by-discipline view is available by selecting the corresponding arts logos. 

- Dance

- Media Arts

- Music

- Theatre

Most importantly, public comment on these revised standards is now open. Stakeholders may participate by attending virtual public hearings or by submitting written comments. All feedback must be submitted by September 10, 2026.

There are two ways to share your voice:

1. Submit written comments to the State Board of Education by September 10, 2026. Comments may be sent electronically to ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov or mailed to State Board of Education, 607 South Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17120. To assist reviewers, please align each comment with one of the following categories when possible: general comments on the entire set of standards; comments specific to a single arts discipline (dance, media arts, music, theatre, or visual art); comments on a discipline’s K–12 progression (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, or 9–12); or comments addressing a specific standard identified by its ID number.

2. Attend a public hearing, either in person or virtually. Two opportunities are available:

 

August 4, 2026

Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus
Ostermayer Lab Building, Room 102, McKeesport, PA
9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: July 30, 2026
Zoom Webinar Link 8/4/26
Telephone: 301-715-8592 (toll free)
Passcode: 971683
Webinar ID: 958 4349 2454

 

September 10, 2026

Montgomery County Intermediate Unit
Valley Forge B & C, 1st Floor, Norristown, PA
1:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline: September 4, 2026
Zoom Webinar Link 9/10/26
Telephone: 301-715-8592 (toll free)
Passcode: 530801
Webinar ID: 967 6604 2494

UPDATED NOTICE: THIRD PUBLIC HEARING SITE ADDED AND WRITTEN COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED 

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR ARTS, ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO 22 PA. CODE CHAPTER 4 (ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT) 

Addition of Third Public Hearing 

October 20, 2026 

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
300 Campus Drive, Mukiyama Univeristy Room, Bradford, PA 16701
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline: October 15, 2026
Zoom Webinar Link 10/20/26
Telephone: 301-715-8592 (toll free)
Passcode: 413729
Webinar ID: 914 8104 3509

This is an important moment for arts educators across Pennsylvania. Your experience and insight can help shape standards that reflect the needs, strengths, and aspirations of students statewide. We encourage every member of the Arts and Humanities PLC to take part in this public review process.

Your voice is essential—thank you for helping strengthen the future of arts education in Pennsylvania.