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Lee County schools outline how students can earn new Florida Fine Arts Seal
Summary
District staff described the state—lorida Fine Arts Seal, eligibility requirements and how Lee County Schools will track student submissions so qualified graduates can receive the seal on diplomas.
Dr. Jason Thomaschevsky presented the new Florida Fine Arts Seal to the Lee County School Board on Jan. 7, describing the state law, the requirements to earn the seal and steps the district is taking to help students qualify.
The state law, enacted in July 2024, recognizes high school graduates who meet exemplary benchmarks in one of six fine-arts disciplines: band, choir, orchestra, dance, drama and visual art. Students must earn a standard high-school diploma, receive an A for three years in a fine-arts discipline and meet two of several state sub-requirements, Thomaschevsky said. Those sub-requirements include completing an advanced course (IB, AP, dual enrollment or honors) with a B or better; participating in juried events for two or more years; recording at least 25 volunteer hours in arts-related community service; submitting a portfolio demonstrating exemplary practice; or receiving district, state or national recognition for original work.
"The seal was established to recognize high school graduates who have met the proper exemplary benchmarks in fine arts education," Thomaschevsky said, and the Department of Education-provided seal will be affixed to diplomas of qualifying graduates. He told the board the district has prepared a one-page summary for teachers, students and parents and is working with the district—ocus system to track submissions. The district expects the documentation window to be late March to early April so seals can be ordered in time for May graduations.
Board members asked how the seal helps students with college applications and whether community arts budget cuts affected the district. Thomaschevsky said the seal and the sub-requirement activities (AP/IB arts courses, juried events, volunteer service, portfolios and original work) align with what colleges seek from arts applicants and that the district's internal arts programming was not cut by recent state-level reductions; however, some community partners reduced outreach after losing operating funds.
Thomaschevsky also clarified technical points: Cambridge/ACE courses do not qualify under the advanced-course sub-requirement but Cambridge students can use their Cambridge-style portfolios to satisfy the state portfolio sub-requirement; the state confirmed volunteer hours may double-count for Bright Futures provided the hours are arts-related; and the district will assemble a 3-5 member rubric review panel for portfolios. He said the district will provide translated materials and contact information on the one-pager provided to board members.
Board members thanked Thomaschevsky and asked for copies of the presentation and the one-page guidance; he said both are included in the meeting attachments and he would circulate the slide deck.
The district will continue training staff and refining timelines as the Department of Education finalizes rubrics and the Focus tracking patch.
