The National Standards for Arts Education were developed by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations under the guidance of the National Committee for Standards in the Arts. The Standards were prepared under a grant from the U.S. Department of education, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Standards affirm that a future worth having depends on being able to construct a vital relationship with the arts, and that doing so, as with any subject, is a matter of discipline and study. The Standards spell out what every young American should know and be able to do in the arts. The Standards say that students should:
......• be able tocommunicate at a basic level in the four arts disciplines – dance, music, theatre,
... ... and the visual arts
......• be able tocommunicate proficiently in at least one art form
......• be able todevelop and present basic analyses of works of art
......• have an informed acquaintance with exemplary works of art from a variety of cultures and
.. .... historical periods
......• be able to relate various types of arts knowledge and skills within and across the arts disciplines
.... .. read more about the Standards

read about the National Standards..

Kim Wheetley, SCEA executive director, served on the National Arts Education Associations Coordinating Council from 1992-94, representing the American Alliance for Theatre & Education as its immediate past president. During this time, Kim was also a member of the Theatre Task Force which wrote the K-12 Theatre Standards.