Widely recognized as a national leader in arts education, New Jersey has become the first state in the nation to provide universal access to arts education for all public school students, according to the 2019 New Jersey Arts Education Annual Summary Report released today by Arts Ed NJ, a non-profit education organization. The review is based on data from the New Jersey State Department of Education for the 2017/2018 school year.

Universal access means all New Jersey public schools provide some form of arts education and every student that attends a public school in New Jersey has the opportunity to participate in arts education programs as part of the regular school day.

“I am grateful that my own education included exposure to the arts, and I know that I would not be where I am today without the skills theatre taught me,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “I am proud to announce that all New Jersey public schools are now offering arts education. The future of New Jersey is bright, and today’s announcement is a critical part of ensuring that our children reach their full potential.”

The report also highlights significant gains in arts education participation. More than 81% of all students in New Jersey now participate in art programs every year; that’s a 25% increase in student participation over the past decade. This means an additional 250,000 students annually participate in arts education compared to a decade ago. The announcement took place during National Arts in Education Week at Paramus High School, which was recognized in 2013 as a Model School in the Arts for the state of New Jersey.