CEDFA, guided by its Task Force, identified the following four goals, and corresponding achievement strategies, to direct the Center's actions.

GOAL 1: TO FACILITATE SYSTEMIC CHANGE THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FINE ARTS TEXAS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS BY:

• evaluating, aligning, and supporting systems that promote student learning in art, music, theatre, and dance
• demonstrating ways to use the TEKS in teacher evaluation
• using the TEKS in the selection of textbooks and instructional materials
• identifying ways to use the TEKS to develop and maintain strong student assessment in the fine arts
• assisting policymakers in using the Fine Arts TEKS when designing and implementing a restructured teacher licensure system and the resulting teacher education programs.

GOAL 2: TO PROVIDE A COORDINATED, STATEWIDE FINE ARTS NETWORK THAT SUPPORTS LEADERSHIP IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FINE ARTS TEXAS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS BY:

• establishing a cadre of master fine arts teachers to serve as a resource for other teachers in the state
• providing quality personnel for professional development in art, music, theatre, and dance
• conducting fine arts workshops in many geographic regions of the state
• providing relevant instructional materials and resources
• establishing and maintaining a fine arts website in art, music, theatre, and dance education
• working with professional associations to ensure that their professional development offerings are aligned with the TEKS.

GOAL 3: TO STRENGTHEN FINE ARTS INSTRUCTION THROUGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE TEXAS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS BY:

• developing educators’ awareness of the Fine Arts TEKS and providing for thoughtful examination of art, music, theatre, and dance curricula
• identifying instructional needs of teachers that are directly related to the Fine Arts TEKS
• selecting professional learning strategies and delivery systems appropriate to the students and content being taught
• supporting teacher initiatives to develop and use new and effective instructional approaches, including experiential learning
• demonstrating problem-focused models for implementing the TEKS.

GOAL 4: TO INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN ART, MUSIC, THEATRE, AND DANCE, TEACHERS WILL LEARN TO:

• directly relate instructional design to the content and skills of each fine arts discipline
• use a variety of instructional strategies to develop learners’ critical and creative thinking abilities
• provide exemplars of student work at various developmental levels
• teach a variety of ways for students to reflect on and assess their progress
• use references and resources to assist them in further exploration and inquiry.