The Oklahoma Legislature has eliminated the mandatory fine arts credit for high school graduation, a 2024 decision that makes art, music, and drama courses optional. This policy change shifts the responsibility of offering arts education to individual school districts, raising concerns among advocates about potential cuts, especially in rural areas with limited resources.
Key Takeaways
- Oklahoma no longer requires a fine arts credit for high school graduation, making these courses optional electives.
- The decision to offer arts programs now rests with local school districts, which could lead to cuts in underfunded areas.
- Over 116,900 students in the state already lack access to any arts education, according to advocacy groups.
- Educators and arts advocates worry that declining enrollment in optional arts classes could lead to their elimination.
New Graduation Policy Sparks Concern
Beginning with the students who were eighth-graders in 2024, Oklahoma high schoolers are no longer required to complete a fine arts credit to earn their diploma. While these courses can still count toward graduation, their optional status has prompted fears that arts programs could disappear from many schools.
Arts advocates are particularly worried about the impact on rural districts, which often face significant funding and staffing challenges. If student enrollment in optional arts classes drops, schools may choose to cut the programs entirely.
"I do have a lot of fears about if we see these classes are no longer a requirement, then we’ll probably see fewer students enroll," said Jennifer Allen-Barron, arts education director for the Oklahoma Arts Council. She noted that low enrollment could justify eliminating classes, thereby reducing opportunities for students.
The State of Arts Access in Oklahoma
Even before the new policy, access to arts education was inconsistent across the state. Data from the advocacy group Oklahomans for the Arts reveals a significant gap in arts availability.
Arts Education by the Numbers
- 447 of 1,721 public schools in Oklahoma do not offer any fine arts courses.
- More than 116,900 public school students in the state have no access to arts education.
- In neighboring Arkansas, every student has access to art courses.
- In Missouri, just over 16,000 students lack access to the fine arts.
This data highlights an existing disparity that advocates believe could worsen under the new graduation rules. The state's overall education system faces broader challenges, with federal data showing Oklahoma students ranking behind peers in reading and math. A WalletHub study also ranked the state's schools 50th in the nation based on factors like test scores and graduation rates.
A Rural School's Effort to Rebuild Its Art Program
In Waurika, a small town of 1,800 near the Texas border, art teacher Glenn Howard is working to revive a program that has struggled for years. He returned to Waurika High School to find the art program had no supplies.
"Our community has really helped, buying supplies and helping do fundraisers and things like that," Howard explained. "I’m trying to make sure we apply for every grant that we can and try to find alternative funding sources."
Howard’s role illustrates the resourcefulness required in many rural schools. In addition to teaching art, he teaches computer courses, previously taught science and social studies, and drives a school bus daily. His day starts at 6:30 a.m. and ends around 4:30 p.m.
Commitment from Local Leadership
Despite the state-level change, local leaders in Waurika remain committed to the arts. Clay Forst, a local rancher and president of the Waurika school board, acknowledged the difficulty of hiring specialized teachers but emphasized the value of arts education.
"Anything you can put in front of students to broaden their minds and broaden their perspective outside our little hometown, I think is a great thing," Forst said.
With community support, Howard has restarted the program with basic drawing classes. His students have already painted a mural on a local pizza shop, and another community project is planned. The school has provided a larger classroom and is investing in new art tables, with Howard hoping to eventually offer ceramics.
The Broader Case for Arts Education
Supporters of arts education point to its wide-ranging benefits, including improved academic performance and student engagement. In Oklahoma City, Wilson Arts Integration Elementary School began incorporating arts into every subject in the mid-1990s.
Anita Arnold, executive director of the Black Integrated Arts Center, which helped introduce the program, said teachers use music and drama to help students better retain math and science lessons. According to state data, Wilson Elementary's test scores in 2024 were 72% higher than the state average.
Other states maintain strong arts requirements. Utah, for example, requires 1.5 credits in the arts for graduation. U.S. News and World Report ranks Utah’s K-12 school system fifth in the nation.
The Risk of Funding Cuts
Retired art teacher Valerie Beck, who taught for over two decades in a rural Oklahoma district, fears that without a state mandate, arts funding will be vulnerable.
"It’s always the first thing to go," Beck said. "They’re not gonna knock out football or something like that." She emphasized that art teaches valuable life skills like problem-solving and the importance of hard work.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment on the new policy.
Nonprofits Step in to Fill Gaps
Across Oklahoma, nonprofit organizations are working to bring arts experiences to students, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, for instance, tours schools that have no arts programs.
"No elementary school has a theatre program, so no matter where we go, the art that we are providing is always something that they don’t have access to within the school," said Mollie Reid, the theatre's director of programs.
The Oklahoma Arts Council also plays a crucial role. In fiscal year 2024, the council invested over $194,000 in rural arts programs, which accounted for about 44% of its total $440,785 investment in arts education. These grants have funded projects like stop-motion animation, mask-making, and artist-in-residence programs.
Allen-Barron of the Arts Council also highlighted the role of arts in addressing other school issues. "The arts offer students a chance to express something complicated in a safe and healthy way," she said. "I hope that school leaders looking for solutions to absenteeism and mental health issues will find some answers in the arts."