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  • Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency

Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency

Arts-Education-Proficiency-Seal-Hi-RES.png

History

The Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency is the latest testament to a rich history of excellent arts education in the state. This diploma seal is administered by the Arizona Department of Education’s Office of Arts Education and is awarded to graduates who complete minimum arts pathway requirements throughout their high school career. The State Seal of Arts Proficiency, or SB1111 as sponsored by Senator Paul Boyer, had bipartisan support and was a grassroots effort from Arizona Arts Education Advocates from across the state. It was signed into law by Governor Doug Ducey on May 14th, 2019. Board rule was adopted by the State Board of Education on October 28th, 2019.

Seal Objectives

Stakeholders from across the state of Arizona convened during the summer of 2019 to outline the objectives and the pathway requirements to achieve the State Seal of Arts Proficiency. Stakeholders identified that the purpose of the seal is:

  • To celebrate students who demonstrate high levels of proficiency in the Arizona Arts Education Standards through personal expression and creative experiences in arts education programs
  • To identify pathways of artistic literacy that cultivate skills for 21st century success
  • To prepare students for college and career readiness, including active participation in the creative industries sector
  • To promote increased access to well-rounded, high quality arts education across the state

2022-2023 Timeline

  • July 15th 8am: LEA APPLICATIONS OPEN
  • September 15th 11:59pm: LEA APPLICATIONS DUE
  • October 15th 5pm: LEA NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATION STATUS
  • February 15th 8am: LEA SEAL ACHIEVEMENT REPORTS OPEN
  • April 15th 11:59pm: LEA SEAL ACHIEVEMENT REPORT DUE TO ADE
  • May 1st: DISTRICTS RECEIVE DIPLOMA SEALS FOR QUALIFYING GRADUATES

 

LEA Achievement Report

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Image of Arts Seal and Achievement Letter

 

Want to share your LEA's Student Capstone Projects with ADE? ADE Arts Education would be glad to showcase the amazing work of Arizona Students. The button below is for the OPTIONAL sharing of student capstone projects associated with the State Seal of Arts Proficiency. Submitted projects may be showcased on the Seal Website, at the ESSA Conference, Title IV-A & B Symposium, or other ADE sponsored events. Thank you for sharing the artistic accomplishments of your students!

 Share Student Capstone Projects

Arts Seal Resources

A guidance document for LEAs who wish to administer the State Seal of Arts Proficiency

Arts Seal Guidance

A  brochure overviewing the seal objectives, minimum pathway requirements, and timeline of the Arts Proficiency seal.

Arts Diploma Brochure

A power point presentation that LEAs may utilize to present the State Seal of Arts Proficiency to leadership.

State Seal of Arts Proficiency Power Point

State Seal of Arts Proficiency Microtraining Standard from ADE Professional Development on Vimeo.

Adopted State Board of Education Rule on the State Seal of Arts Proficiency. Approved October 28th 2019.

R7-2-321 State Seal of Arts Proficiency

 

 

 

Administrative Procedures

Agua Fria Unified High School District

Scottsdale Unified School District

JO Combs - Example Certificate

2021-2022 State Seal of Arts Proficiency Year End Report

2020-2021 State Seal of Arts Proficiency Year End Report

2019-2020 State Seal of Arts Proficiency Year End Report

Student Capstone Examples

Student: Melissa Leor
Project Title: The "Perfect" Dinner Table

Melissa Leor of Desert Eagle HS 2022.jpg

Image of dining table with ceramic place setting


Project Description: When I started brainstorming ideas of what would be the significance about a dinner table, I related it to my life experiences. Originally, I wanted the message to be positive, whereas anyone (friends, families, etc.) could come together and dine to show connection. However, it did not feel satisfying enough to be my ultimate message. I began to compare it with my own family, and it was completely different. On social media I would come across this idea that there were families who seem to be well off, having perfect lives, constantly happy and rarely dealing with problems. It made me question, “Is it truly possible to have a perfect family?” I quickly realized it’s quite the opposite. No family can be perfect. I think I can speak for many families, in which we have this positive persona to make others think that we are always smiling and untroubled. Yet behind the façade our true personalities and bad defects come up when we are around those who know us most. I especially experience this with my family, because once we all return home and there is nobody to impress, we become a different person. As a matter of fact, we have our own struggles, flaws, imperfections, insecurities, and unhappy moments.

With that being said, I wanted my dinner table to look beautiful and well put together, but the more you look at it, you will start noticing defects from my art pieces. It is very subtle because it represents how people view “perfect” families at first glance. The more you observe, you get to see little things that seem off and imperfect. At each place of the dinner table some ceramic pieces look different from the rest. This represents a person’s flaws and differences because we are not the same and struggle with different issues. I leave the art interpretation to the audience because all families are different. Not only did I want the dinner table to be a part of my life experience, but it’s also for the viewer to connect and reflect on their family. For example, I only have 3 chairs when there should be 4, which is intentional because that may be interpreted as a loved one who has passed away or the separation of parents that have lost that connection to the family.

 

This video showcases 2021 student capstone projects from TUSD

 

 

Choreography, Video and Sound Design by Madeline Mitchell
Danced by Madeline Mitchell & Eva Schmidt
Mentor teachers: Sara Steward (for Ms. Mitchell) & Kyle Brady (for Ms. Schmidt)


I would like to explore abstraction in modern dance and the ways it can be portrayed. I want to push the limits and take advantage of creative possibilities through unconventional music, sharp editing, and different locations.
– Madeline Mitchell

 

 

View the student capstone websites here

 

 

Student Design 

In the 2019-2020 school year, the Arizona Department of Education put out a call for student designers of the State Seal of Arts Proficiency. The Arizona Department of Education is proud to announce the winning design for the State Seal of Arts Proficiency. The selected design will be affixed to the diplomas of all graduates who meet the minimum arts education requirements. Congratulations Chloe Ball from Pinnacle High School in the Paradise Valley School District!  This design will be printed on copper foil and sent to schools administering the State Seal of Arts Proficiency by May 1st of each year.

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  • ADE Student Art Gallery
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Contact

  • Title IV-A Arts Education Specialist
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From the Arts Education Blog

January Arts Education Newsletter Thu, Dec 29 2022 Spotlight

Dear Arts Educators,

Welcome to 2023! Congratulations on completing the first semester of this

school year. Thank you for inspiring a love of the arts in Arizona students

every day. Teaching can be challenging in many ways, but we thank you for

persevering and making an impact on a daily basis.

"...if I can inspire one of these youngsters to develop the talent I know they

possess, then my monument will be in their work."

-Augusta Savage

 

Thank you for preparing the musicians, artists, dancers, actors and creative

collaborators of tomorrow. You are doing great work and we thank you!

Yours in collaboration,

ADE Arts Education

December Arts Education Newsletter Wed, Nov 23 2022 What's New In The Arts?

Dear Arts Educators,

There are many exciting things happening in the arts during the month of December and we wish all of our arts teachers much luck on upcoming performances and presentations! First, we would like to congratulate the art students of Ms. Lorenia Gutierrez-Casaus in Yuma Union High School District for representing Arizona at the America Celebrates Ornament Display! These ornaments are on display at the President's Park in Washington, DC. We are thankful to them for sharing their talent with the nation! We hope that you have a restful winter break and take some time to make some beautiful art, music, drama or dance solely for yourself. Arts participation is self-care!

Yours in collaboration,

ADE Arts Education

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