The Alaska Arts Education Data Project
Overview
In‬†2023‬†the‬†National‬†Endowment‬†for‬†the‬†Arts‬†and‬†Alaska‬†State‬†Council‬†on‬†the‬†Arts‬†awarded‬ funds‬†to‬†the‬†Alaska‬†Arts‬†Education‬†Consortium‬†to‬†investigate‬†what‬†was‬†happening‬†with‬†arts‬ education in Alaska.‬
Goal
â€The‬†goal‬†of‬†the‬†Alaska‬†Arts‬†Education‬†Data‬†Project‬†is‬†to‬†gather‬†data‬†and‬†analyze‬†the‬ accessibility,‬†equity,‬†and‬†quality‬†of‬†arts‬†education.‬†Arts‬†education‬†encompasses‬†teaching‬†and‬ learning‬†in‬†and‬†through‬†the‬†arts,‬†both‬†during‬†and‬†outside‬†of‬†school‬†days,‬†focusing‬†on‬ children,‬†youth,‬†and‬†communities.‬†We‬†champion‬†a‬†vision‬†of‬†equity,‬†diversity,‬†and‬†inclusion‬ that‬†ensures‬†the‬†full‬†and‬†fair‬†participation‬†of‬†all‬†students‬†in‬†arts‬†programs,‬†policy‬†formation,‬ and decision-making, making sure all voices are heard.‬
Surveys
Surveys were conducted in 2024 and in 2025.
The 2024 survey, designed by a cross-sector working group, was conducted from April 8 through June 28, 2024. Complete data were received from 18 districts out of 54 districts – a 33% participation rate. At the student enrollment level, these districts account for roughly 47% of students Pre-K through 12th grade. Further, all five general regions of the state were represented in the summary of data – North, Interior, Southwest, Southcentral, and Southeast.
The 2025 survey, was conducted from January 13, 2025 through May 16, 2025 and received complete data from 42 districts out of a total of 53 districts, providing a participation rate of 79% of districts. At the student enrollment level these districts account for about 90% of students across the state Pre-K through 12th grade. All five general regions of the state are represented – north, interior, southwest, southcentral, and southeast.
Key Contacts
Annie Calkins – Lead Investigator: anniecalkins@gmail.com‬
Sonta Hamilton – Co-coordinator: sontahamilton@gmail.com
â€Barbara Adams – Project Researcher: badams.aas@gmail.com
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