Assembly Bill A10803

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10803
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               April 1, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. DILAN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing  a  state
   seal of artistic achievement
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 819 to
 read as follows:
   § 819. STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT. 1. (A) THE  STATE  SEAL  OF
 ARTISTIC  ACHIEVEMENT  IS ESTABLISHED TO RECOGNIZE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
 WHO HAVE ATTAINED A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY IN MUSIC, DANCE,  THEATER,
 VISUAL  ARTS OR MEDIA ARTS. THE STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT SHALL
 BE AWARDED BY THE COMMISSIONER. SCHOOL DISTRICT  PARTICIPATION  IN  THIS
 PROGRAM IS VOLUNTARY.
   (B)  THE  PURPOSES  OF  THE  STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT ARE AS
 FOLLOWS:
   (1) TO ENCOURAGE PUPILS TO STUDY THE ARTS.
   (2) TO PROVIDE EMPLOYERS WITH A  METHOD  OF  IDENTIFYING  PEOPLE  WITH
 ARTISTIC SKILLS.
   (3)  TO  PROVIDE  UNIVERSITIES  WITH AN ADDITIONAL METHOD TO RECOGNIZE
 APPLICANTS SEEKING ADMISSION.
   (4) TO PREPARE PUPILS WITH TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SKILLS.
   (5) TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF ARTS INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
   2. (A) THE STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFIES ATTAINMENT  OF
 A  HIGH LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY BY A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL IN ONE OR
 MORE ARTISTIC AREAS OF STUDY. THE FIVE ARTISTIC AREAS OF STUDY FOR WHICH
 A PUPIL MAY BE AWARDED A SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT ARE: MUSIC, DANCE,
 THEATER, VISUAL ARTS AND MEDIA ARTS.
   (B) THE BOARD OF REGENTS SHALL  PROMULGATE  SUCH  REGULATIONS  OF  THE
 COMMISSIONER AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH THE CRITERIA THAT STUDENTS
 MUST  ACHIEVE TO EARN A STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT. CRITERIA FOR
 ACHIEVEMENT MUST BE BASED UPON ATTAINMENT OF UNITS OF CREDIT  IN  MUSIC,
 DANCE,  THEATER,  VISUAL ARTS AND MEDIA ARTS BEYOND THE CREDITS REQUIRED
 TO ATTAIN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, OR THE COMPLETION OF A  CERTAIN  NUMBER
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15279-01-6
 A. 10803                            2
 
 OF  HOURS IN A RELEVANT ARTISTIC EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY. A PUPIL'S GPA
 AND ASSESSMENT SCORES SHALL NOT BE USED AS A CRITERIA.
   3. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DO BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) PREPARE AND DELIVER TO PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AN APPROPRI-
 ATE  INSIGNIA  TO  BE AFFIXED TO THE DIPLOMA AND TRANSCRIPT OF THE PUPIL
 INDICATING THAT THE PUPIL HAS BEEN AWARDED  A  STATE  SEAL  OF  ARTISTIC
 ACHIEVEMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   (B) PROVIDE OTHER INFORMATION THEY DEEM NECESSARY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS
 TO SUCCESSFULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
   4.  A  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  THAT  PARTICIPATES  IN THE PROGRAM UNDER THIS
 SECTION SHALL DO BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE RECORDS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY PUPILS WHO  HAVE
 EARNED A STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT.
   (B)  AFFIX  THE  APPROPRIATE INSIGNIA TO THE DIPLOMA AND TRANSCRIPT OF
 EACH PUPIL WHO EARNS A STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT.
   5. NO FEE SHALL BE CHARGED TO A PUPIL PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
 addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.