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 2nd: DISTRICTS RECEIVE DIPLOMA SEALS FOR QUALIFYING GRADUATES
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!
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
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.
Submit your district or charter application for the 2022-2023 school year beginning July 15th!
The Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency gives schools and districts the opportunity to honor arts students who demonstrate high levels of proficiency in the arts!
LEAs must first submit an application to ADE Arts Education July 15th‐September 15th.
Students complete a Seal of Arts Proficiency Pathway, capstone project and successfully graduate from an Arizona district public or charter school.
Arizona Diploma Seals are currently being considered for CCRI points for SY 22‐23!
Please join us for an informational meeting on July 20th at 3:00p.m. via zoom to gain a better understanding of how you can offer this to students in your school or district.
Host Jim Palmarini of Arts ARE Education talks with Denise Estudillo (Federal Programs Director, Winslow AZ School District), Christa Knox (8th Grade Art and Social Studies Teacher, Winslow Junior High), and Tyler Allen (Band and Orchestra Teacher, Winslow High School), about how Title IV-A federal funds are supporting arts education in one rural district.
