New in 2024-2025: the Florida Seal of Fine Arts
In April 2024, the Florida State Legislature unanimously approved the The Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program as a state level seal honoring high school graduates who have met exemplary benchmarks in fine arts coursework by the award of a seal on a standard high school diploma. The purpose of the Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program is to encourage students to develop an exemplary level of proficiency in the performing or visual arts.
This is a state level honor, but applications, tracking progress towards requirements, coordination, communication, and distribution of Seals will happen at the district level.
Applications for the Florida Seal of Fine Arts will be submitted via the online link below. Through this link, students will be able to upload any supporting documents or portfolio files as required by the rules listed above.
The application window opened at the beginning of January 2025 and it will close on Monday, March 10, 2025.
To view the language of the Florida Seal of Fine Arts, please review Rule 6A-1.09952 Requirements for the Florida Seal of Fine Arts or read the full text of the rule below. This Florida Seal of Fine Arts began on July 1, 2024.
(1) Definitions.
(a) “Fine arts” means dance, music, theatre and visual arts (Florida Statute 1003.4995)
(b) “Juried event” means a district or statewide organization’s event where a student or group of students are judged by one or more judges on the selected fine arts discipline of their choosing and receive a scored rating and written or oral feedback.
(c) “Original work of art” means a work of art that is created by the student.
(d) “Work of art” means a musical or theatrical composition, visual artwork, or choreographed routine or performance.
(2) Criteria for Eligibility. Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, the Florida Seal of Fine Arts shall be awarded to a high school student who demonstrates the following requirements have been met:
(a) The student earned a standard high school diploma;
(b) The student completed at least three (3) year-long courses in dance, music, theatre, or visual arts with a grade of “A” or higher in each course, or earned three (3) sequential course credits in such courses with a grade of “A” or higher in each course pursuant to Rule 6A-1.09441, F.A.C.; and
(c) The student completed at least two (2) of the following requirements:
Completed a fine arts International Baccalaureate, advanced placement, dual enrollment, or honors course with a grade of “B” or higher;
Participated in a district or statewide organization’s juried event as a selected student participant for two (2) or more years;
Recorded at least twenty-five (25) volunteer hours of arts-related community service in his or her community and presents a comprehensive presentation on his or her experiences pursuant to district procedures;
Submits a portfolio that demonstrates the student is an exemplary practitioner of fine arts, as described in subsection (3); or
Received district, state, or national recognition for the creation and submission of an original work of art.
(3) Portfolio Option. Portfolios described in this rule must meet the following requirements:
(a) Portfolios must include at least one (1) and not more than eight (8) separate works of art within one fine arts discipline. Students must submit photographs or prints showing their original works of visual art, and must submit video recordings for portfolios showing dance, music, or theatre performances. Dance, music or theatre portfolios may include original works created by the student or the performance of works created by others. Districts are authorized to develop procedures specifying minimum and maximum length for recorded submissions.
(b) School district appointed personnel must review the portfolio using the “Florida Seal of Fine Arts Portfolio Rubric” (Form FA-2) to determine if the student is an exemplary practitioner of fine arts. A score of eighteen (18) or higher qualifies as exemplary. Portfolio reviewers must hold a valid, active Florida Professional Educator Certificate pursuant to Rule 6A-4.004, F.A.C., in the student’s specific discipline (Art, Dance, Drama or Music), unless the district does not have anyone with that certification in the district or that person is unavailable.
(4) Insignia. The Commissioner of Education must provide to each school district an appropriate insignia to be affixed to the student’s diploma indicating that the student has been awarded the Florida Seal of Fine Arts in accordance with this rule. The district must also record on a student’s transcript that he or she earned the Florida Seal of Fine Arts.
(5) School District Reporting. Each school district must maintain records showing which students earned the Florida Seal of Fine Arts and must report this information to the Department in accordance with Rule 6A-1.0014, F.A.C., Comprehensive Management Information System.
(6) Documents Incorporated by Reference. The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule.
(a) The Florida Seal of Fine Arts Eligibility Form, Form FA-1, effective September 2024.
(b) The Florida Seal of Fine Arts Portfolio Rubric, Form FA-2, effective September 2024.
(c) The Florida Seal of Fine Arts Statement, Form FA-3, effective September 2024.
(d) The Florida Seal of Fine Arts Volunteer Hour Tracker, Form FA-4, effective September 2024.
You will need to download and complete the forms linked above for various parts of this application process. Applicants will be prompted to upload each completed form where required within the application. Uploaded and completed Form FA-1 and Form FA-3 are required for all applicants.
The online application can be accessed here: Florida Seal of Fine Arts Application for DCPS Students
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Laurie Hoppock, DCPS Director of the Arts (HoppockL@duvalschools.org).