2024-2025 Fine Arts Diploma Seal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diploma Seal

Students who complete a pathway and an additional fourth credit in the arts or creative industry course, complete 20 hours of arts-related community service in their Senior year of high school, participate in arts-related clubs and complete a capstone project are eligible for the Fine Arts Diploma Seal in public school districts that have applied to award the seal.

What is the Fine Arts Diploma Seal? (FADS)

The Fine Arts Diploma Seal will be awarded to Fulton County graduating high school students (seniors) who:

  • Submit a transcript documenting the completion of a fine arts pathway 3 FULL Credits plus the at least one additional fine arts credit OR credit in a course that provides a creative industry skill focus
  • Participate in 2 or more arts related extracurricular activities and experiences that foster fine arts mastery
  • Submit documentation of completion of 20 hours of arts related community service during your senior year
  • Complete a Capstone Project including a written reflection of their experiences

What does each school need to know?

Each Fulton County High School will designate a school level Fine Art Diploma Seal (FADS) Committee Chair and follow the below process:

  • Each school planning to offer the FADS will complete this Fine Art Diploma Seal form “Intent to Participate” by August 30th, indicating the school’s primary contact and estimated number of students anticipated to earn the FADS in 2025
  • The FADS committee chair/ designee will collect all student eligibility documentation from students using the FADS Student Worksheet and Documentation form or a smiliar document to collect eligibility and qualification information.
  • The FADS committee will verify all student eligibility and archive all student documentation and artifacts that support the student earning the FADS. This information and documentation will be kept on file at each local school for a minimum calendar year.
  • The FADS committee chair will submit the list of students’ names to the Fulton County Fine Art Department using the provided excel spreadsheet. Spreadsheet can be accessed using this link: FINAL FADS Student List.
  • The FADS committee will save all student documentation forms and artifacts for at least one full school year
  • Send any questions about the FADS to: eppese@fultonschools.org or koperniakm@fultonschools.org



What does each student need to know?

Students will submit the following FADS eligibility documentation to the FADS committee chair/designee:

  • Transcript documenting Pathway completion of a minimum of three (3) CREDIT units in one of the fine arts subject areas. Pathway completion denotes mastery in one art form. These areas include dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. In addition, Student will earn at least one (1) additional fine arts course credit OR earn at least one (1) credit in a GA DOE approved Creative Industry Course
  • Documentation that the student participated in two fine arts related extracurricular activities. This can be good standing membership in the National Art Honor Society, National Music Honor Society, Art Club or other arts organizations, participation in shows, competitions, exhibits, etc.
  • Documentation of completion of 20 hours of arts related community service during the senior year. This can include work done outside of school that is not a required component of regular coursework
  • Documentation of a capstone presentation on their experiences. Capstone Presentations may include student exhibitions that demonstrate a portfolio of work per student, website presenting portfolio and artist statement, etc.
  • *Documentation of extracurricular activities, community service and capstone presentations can be executed and maintained by the student but must be approved by that student’s Fine Arts teacher. Capstone proposals such as performing in a fall or spring concert or participating in an arts night are important components of a fine arts department, however they are not activities that can be considered for a Capstone Project. Students receive prior approval for the Capstone Project from the school FADS coordinator. FADS Student Worksheet and Documentation

*Capstone proposals such as performing in a fall or spring concert or participating in an arts night are important components of a fine arts department, however they are not activities that can be considered for a Capstone Project. Students receive prior approval for the Capstone Project from the school FADS coordinator.

2024-2025 FADS Timeline

August – October:
Communicate to students regarding the FADS. Provide them with the FADS worksheet. Begin to compile the school list of students who will potentially earn the FADS.

August 30:
Each school planning to offer the FADS will submit this form: Intent to Participate
This information is the school primary contact and estimated number of students anticipated to earn the FADS in 2024

November:
Follow up with students. Make sure they are on track to complete all of the FADS requirements.

December 15:
Schools do not submit the application to the district, but please continue to follow up with students.

January 30:
Student submits all qualifying documentation to local school Fine Art Diploma Seal committee chair.

January 30 – February 28
Local School reviews all documentation and verifies student eligibility for Fine Art Diploma Seal

April 8:
Deadline for schools to submit list of qualifying seniors to the FCS (Fulton County School) Fine Art Department. Use this link to submit final list: Link for Submitting Final FADS 2024

April 9-15:
FCS Fine Arts Department evaluates credentials of candidates submitted and reports list of qualifying candidates to GADOE (Georgia Department of Education)

May:
Schools receive the honor cords and FADS from FCS Fine Art Department
Schools award the Fine Arts Diploma Seal
Awards Ceremony (Determined by local school)

Send any questions about the FADS to: eppese@fultonschools.org or koperniakm@fultonschools.org

This is a list of GaDOE (Georgia Department of Education) approved creative industry courses. There may be others that your school offers that have a creative industry skill focus, if so contact the Fine Arts Department for approval.

In addition to the three required full credits in Fine Arts to complete a Fine Arts Pathway, students will need to complete a fourth fine arts credit in the same or another fine arts subject. Systems can also substitute the following lists of courses instead of the fourth fine arts credit.

  • 03100 Directed Study (In Fine Arts)

In FY17 FCS added 70.232001 & 70.2320001 Directed Studies with focus on the creative industries and the arts

  • 04100 Community Service/Learning I (in Fine Arts)
  • 09200 Dramatic Writing I (counts as Dual credit as a fourth English and a theatre course)