The Arts and Humanities graduation requirement enables students to specialize in one or more art forms (e.g. band, chorus, choir, general or music appreciation, etc.) at the high school level, as stated in the student’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP), to fulfill this graduation requirement

The full regulation for graduation requirements may be accessed at 704 KAR 3:305. Minimum requirements for high school graduation. The regulation requires that any course that fulfills the graduation requirement must be “standards based.” Kentucky’s academic standards are spelled out in the  Kentucky Core Academic Standards, Any course that is used to fulfill the arts and humanities graduation requirement must be aligned to the  KCAS accordingly. Music courses must be aligned to the music portion of the Program of Studies. This will require that those courses follow an instructional program that includes the instructional categories of Structures in the arts, Humanity in the Arts, Purposes for Creating the Arts, Processes in the Arts (creating, performing, responding), and Interrelationships Among the Arts as outlined in the KCAS.

KMEA has prepared an example course alignment document and has posted the example on the KMEA web site for use by high schools across the state. (See link above.)

For further details you may contact—
Robert Duncan, KDE Arts and Humanities Consultant, Robert.duncan@education.ky.gov
Pam Fleitz, Jefferson County Music Curriculum Specialist, pam.fleitz@jefferson.kyschools.us

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*This document could also be used by those schools that are not allowing arts specialization but would like to embed the material into their performing arts classes in order to exempt students from the Arts and Humanities class.