Purpose

To determine the extent of implementation of the two recommendations included in our initial audit report, Outstanding Violations (2011-N-4).

Background

Our initial audit report, which was issued February 28, 2014, examined whether New York City Deparment of Education (DoE) students (in the 2011 graduating class) completed an Arts Education curriculum that complied with State Education Department (SED) Regulations. We found that between 142 and 197 of our 310 sampled students (46 to 64 percent) did not meet one or more of the SED Arts Education requirements. Consequently, students who did not receive Arts Education in compliance with SED Regulations might not readily develop the creativity, leadership, and communication skills that research attributes to Arts Education. In addition, the high exception rate we found suggested that there was a material risk that students throughout the NYC public high school system might not have obtained a sufficient Arts Education, as otherwise required by SED.

Key Finding

• The Department has made significant progress in addressing the issues identified in our initial report. Both of the two prior recommendations have been implemented.

Other Related Audit/Report of Interest

New York City Department of Education: Compliance With State Arts Education Requirements (2011-N-4)