Clay County Schools explains Florida Seal of Fine Arts requirements, application window and resources

Clay County District Schools used a virtual Parent Academy session to walk families through the new Florida Seal of Fine Arts, how students qualify, and where to find application materials and career resources.

Christopher Google, the district’s fine art curriculum specialist, said the seal is a recent statewide initiative: "The Florida seal of fine arts is actually a very new initiative. In 2024, it was voted on," and Clay County students must apply through the district rather than directly through the state. He described the seal as "state‑verified proficiency" that appears on a student’s transcript to make arts achievement easier for colleges and employers to identify.

The district described one core requirement and five optional pathways. For the core requirement, students "must have completed successfully 3 year long courses" in a single fine‑art area and "they must obtain a grade of an A or higher." After meeting that requirement, students choose two of five additional options to complete the seal. Google summarized one option as an honors course (IB, AP, dual enrollment, ACE or other honors) and said students "will need to earn a grade of a B or higher" in that honors course for it to apply.

Other options include: being a selected participant in district or statewide juried events for two or more academic years; completing 25 hours of arts‑related community service plus delivering a comprehensive presentation about the experience; submitting a judged portfolio evaluated against the state rubric by certified fine art teachers; or receiving district, state or national recognition for an original work (composition, choreography, playwriting, original visual art, etc.). Google stressed that original‑work recognition requires creating and submitting original material rather than performing another person’s work.

Google noted that courses counted toward the seal must be coded as fine‑art classes (not Career and Technical Education/C.T.E. courses) and urged families to verify course codes and teacher certification with school counselors. He also clarified that the three year‑long courses need not occur in three separate academic years: multiple year‑long courses taken in the same year can count if each course meets the grade requirement.

On logistics, the district said applications are submitted through a link on the county fine arts web page and that "this year, the application window closes on April 1." Students who earn the seal are notified within about a month; the district sends the seal to schools to be affixed to diplomas and typically recognizes recipients at a countywide fine arts gala. The district is accepting applications from juniors and seniors; juniors who apply would not receive the physical seal until graduation but can use an early confirmation on college or scholarship applications.

The district highlighted additional resources: a creative‑industry career profiles page listing arts‑related careers and training, contest and composition workshops, and a Fine Arts College, Career and Community event scheduled for Friday, May 15, 4–7 p.m., at the Thrasherhorn Center (Black Box/Studio Theater). Google directed families to the district’s fine arts web page for the application form, state rubrics, templates for volunteer presentations and portfolios, calendar listings and staff contact information.

Tori Gurnice, coordinator of family and community engagement, closed the session by thanking participants, noting the presentation was recorded, and offering individual follow‑up for questions that could not be answered during the webinar.