Wednesday, January 2, 2019
The Wisconsin Standards for Theatre were adopted by State Superintendent Tony Evers on December 10, 2018. The Theatre Writing Committee started their review in May 2018 and worked throughout the spring and summer. The committee utilized public survey feedback and standards examples such as Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards for Theatre Education (1997) and the National Core Arts Standards for Theatre (2014) to inform their work. The writing committee, made up of educators, administrators, higher education staff members, and theatre professionals in the field, donated many hours to support this work.
The Wisconsin Standards for Theatre are a foundational framework, identifying what students should know and be able to do in theatre through four grade bands: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. They highlight two strands for development – theatre performance, and theatre production. This set of standards provides a guide to prepare students to be college and career ready in all school settings. Students engage in performance and production theatre concepts through the standards and the Create, Perform, Respond, and Connect artistic processes.
The full set of standards includes both of the Theatre Performance and Theatre Production strands
• Wisconsin Standards for Theatre - Full
• Theatre Performance Strand K-12
• Theatre Production Strand K-12
School districts may consider this set of standards within their work to help build skills and knowledge in both theatre performance and production areas. School communities may also utilize the resources available within the Wisconsin Standards for Theatre page. This site provides a video which highlights the standard's framework and links to a full standards document, as well as individual strand versions.
Additional resources will be added over time to support the implementation of the standards. We encourage you to visit this site often to see what is new. Check the Fine Arts Professional Development Calendar for online and face to face standards sessions.
For more information about the Wisconsin Standards for Theatre, you may email Julie Palkowski, Fine Arts & Creativity Education Consultant at DPITheatre.Standards@dpi.wi.gov.
Subscriber Submission: Julie Palkowski, Fine Arts and Creativity Education Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction