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S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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10184
I N S E N A T E
May 4, 2026
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Introduced by Sen. SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed 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:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 819 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 819. STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT. 1. (A) THE STATE SEAL OF
4 ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT IS ESTABLISHED TO RECOGNIZE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
5 WHO HAVE ATTAINED A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY IN MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER,
6 VISUAL ARTS OR MEDIA ARTS. THE STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT SHALL
7 BE AWARDED BY THE COMMISSIONER. SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTICIPATION IN THIS
8 PROGRAM IS VOLUNTARY.
9 (B) THE PURPOSES OF THE STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT ARE AS
10 FOLLOWS:
11 (1) TO ENCOURAGE PUPILS TO STUDY THE ARTS.
12 (2) TO PROVIDE EMPLOYERS WITH A METHOD OF IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WITH
13 ARTISTIC SKILLS.
14 (3) TO PROVIDE UNIVERSITIES WITH AN ADDITIONAL METHOD TO RECOGNIZE
15 APPLICANTS SEEKING ADMISSION.
16 (4) TO PREPARE PUPILS WITH TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SKILLS.
17 (5) TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF ARTS INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
18 2. (A) THE STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFIES ATTAINMENT OF
19 A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY BY A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL IN ONE OR
20 MORE ARTISTIC AREAS OF STUDY. THE FIVE ARTISTIC AREAS OF STUDY FOR WHICH
21 A PUPIL MAY BE AWARDED A SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT ARE: MUSIC, DANCE,
22 THEATER, VISUAL ARTS AND MEDIA ARTS.
23 (B) THE BOARD OF REGENTS SHALL PROMULGATE SUCH REGULATIONS OF THE
24 COMMISSIONER AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH THE CRITERIA THAT STUDENTS
25 MUST ACHIEVE TO EARN A STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT. CRITERIA FOR
26 ACHIEVEMENT MUST BE BASED UPON ATTAINMENT OF UNITS OF CREDIT IN MUSIC,
27 DANCE, THEATER, VISUAL ARTS AND MEDIA ARTS BEYOND THE CREDITS REQUIRED
28 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
S. 10184 2
1 OF HOURS IN A RELEVANT ARTISTIC EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY. A PUPIL'S GPA
2 AND ASSESSMENT SCORES SHALL NOT BE USED AS A CRITERIA.
3 3. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DO BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:
4 (A) PREPARE AND DELIVER TO PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AN APPROPRI-
5 ATE INSIGNIA TO BE AFFIXED TO THE DIPLOMA AND TRANSCRIPT OF THE PUPIL
6 INDICATING THAT THE PUPIL HAS BEEN AWARDED A STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC
7 ACHIEVEMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER.
8 (B) PROVIDE OTHER INFORMATION THEY DEEM NECESSARY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS
9 TO SUCCESSFULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
10 4. A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAM UNDER THIS
11 SECTION SHALL DO BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:
12 (A) MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE RECORDS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY PUPILS WHO HAVE
13 EARNED A STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT.
14 (B) AFFIX THE APPROPRIATE INSIGNIA TO THE DIPLOMA AND TRANSCRIPT OF
15 EACH PUPIL WHO EARNS A STATE SEAL OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT.
16 5. NO FEE SHALL BE CHARGED TO A PUPIL PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
18 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
19 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
20 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
21 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.