Your Voice Matters in Pennsylvania’s Arts and Humanities Standards

Pennsylvania’s academic landscape for arts education is entering an important new chapter. After more than two decades, the 2002 academic standards for the arts underwent significant revision throughout the summer and fall of 2025 and into the spring of 2026. Now, these updated standards are ready for public review—and this is where your voice, expertise, and advocacy truly matter.

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 by clicking on the following links.

Dance
Media Arts
Music
Theatre
Visual Arts

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

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.