Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arts Endorsement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts arts education diploma endorsement requirements and extracurricular list
Summary
The board approved a local extracurricular-activities list and implementation procedure for the State Board of Education—s Arts Education Proficiency Diploma endorsement, including eligibility rules and a 40-hour extracurricular requirement endorsed by the local board.
The Moore County Schools Board of Education on Feb. 10 approved a local extracurricular-activities list and implementation steps for the Arts Education Proficiency Diploma endorsement, a state-approved diploma seal for students who meet arts-course and extracurricular standards.
District arts lead Miss Gephardt presented the requirements and the locally endorsed activities. "First, the student must take a minimum of four arts courses ... they must make a B in each of those four courses," Gephardt said, describing the state guidance. She said the endorsement also allows up to 40 arts-related extracurricular hours over a student—s high-school career, but the activities counted toward those hours must be approved by the local board and cannot be courses that receive a grade.
Gephardt said the district included band, chorus, theater and visual arts on the initial list and will consider additional cultural-arts experiences on a case-by-case basis if a student petitions for inclusion. The list also includes options for students who cannot attend after-school activities; the 40 hours may be accrued across the four years from ninth grade to graduation, and the district will permit backdating so eligible seniors this year can receive the endorsement.
Superintendent Dr. Kevin Locklear and principals recommended the district honor the endorsement in the same way it recognizes other state diploma endorsements: by a seal on the diploma, notation in the graduation program and recognition at honors ceremonies. Board member Davis moved approval; Dr. Amy Dahl seconded. The board voted to approve the extracurricular activities list and the recommended implementation steps.
Board members praised the arts program and thanked taxpayers for supporting arts education, with construction committee chair Ralph Hensley noting that state funding cuts a decade ago left local taxpayers to sustain some fine-arts programming.
The board did not adopt a new cord or ribbon standard for graduation; principals recommended using the existing recognition methods applied to other endorsements rather than creating an additional cord.
