69传媒

English Learners

Seal of Biliteracy Programs: A Guide for 69传媒

By Ileana Najarro 鈥 November 15, 2023 6 min read
Illustrations of "Hello" in multiple languages, blue color.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Forty nine states now offer students the opportunity to earn seals of biliteracy showing their skills in two or more languages, according to the latest data. Yet school districts are still working toward implementing and refining seal of biliteracy programs at the local level.

The Department of Education鈥檚 office of English language acquisition hosted a two-part webinar this month offering guidance for district and school leaders on best practices to ensure all students鈥攊ncluding English learners and heritage-language learners鈥攈ave the opportunity to earn the seal of biliteracy.

The seal is a special recognition on a high school diploma that affirms a student鈥檚 proficiency in English and one or more additional languages, including American Sign Language. Language proficiency is the ability to use a language for every day purposes, such as accomplishing tasks that you would encounter in the real world when you speak that language, across a wide range of topics and settings, said Kristin J. Davin, professor of education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

See also

69传媒 in Dalia Gerardo鈥檚 2nd grade class have access to school supplies labeled in Spanish and English at West Elementary in Russellville, Ala. Seals of biliteracy programs promote multilingualism as an asset across the country.
69传媒 in Dalia Gerardo鈥檚 2nd grade class have access to school supplies labeled in Spanish and English at West Elementary in Russellville, Ala.
Tamika Moore for Education Week

There are a variety of ways students can meet requirements for recognition including performance on Advanced Placement language tests, world language coursework, and more. States also set tiers of proficiency such as silver and gold seals for different levels of mastery.

Davin, along with Amy J. Heineke, a professor of education at Loyola University Chicago described their five-part framework for adopting and operating seal programs in an equitable way by focusing on: purpose, programs, promotions, partners, and proficiency assessments.

Set a purpose for a seal program

Seal of biliteracy programs began as a grassroots effort in California in 2012. Most of the time, it鈥檚 a voluntary initiative that starts at the school and district level.

As a result, Heineke said there needs to be a tangible goal in place to get an entire school community on board with implementing a seal of biliteracy program鈥攁nd dedicate local funding for it.

That goal can be a certain percentage of students graduating with a seal each year, or expanding what languages are covered under seal requirements.

鈥淲hat are we aiming to achieve with the seal of biliteracy? Making sure that they鈥檙e measurable. How will we know that we reached this goal,鈥 are questions to ask, Davin said.

A good starting point in developing a goal or purpose behind a district鈥檚 seal program is to figure out what languages exist in homes, schools, and communities within a district, Davin said. Home language surveys, check-ins with parents, and a review of what languages are taught in schools across a district are some ways to go about this.

District leaders must also seek input from educators, community leaders, parents, and students for what goals to set and to get broad support.

鈥淪chool counselors are really important individuals to be involved, since they guide students through the registration process and the pathway to higher education,鈥 Davin said.

See also

Close up of a Diploma and blue graduation ribbon.
E+/Getty

Attach seal programs to district priorities

One way to help ensure that goals for a seal program are met is by attaching a program to existing language programs or initiatives in a district, including dual-language classes, English-as-a-second-language instruction, and more.

Often, the management of seal programs falls to a district鈥檚 world language or bilingual education coordinator, Heineke said, which can limit access if that administrator鈥檚 purview does not entail working with all students and educators across the district.

鈥淵ou can attach the seal to a larger strategic plan priority around global citizenship and college and career preparedness,鈥 she added. 鈥淲here we鈥檝e seen the seal of biliteracy implemented really widely and deeply are places that have strategically enlisted the support of their superintendents, of their school boards, and taking the time continually, not just up front, but over time to go in and give that pitch about why this matters.鈥

For instance, districts can use the seal in conjunction with International Baccalaureate programs that already require world language instruction.

And some districts have moved to not just offering a chance at getting a seal in high school, but rather creating pathway recognitions, which celebrate students鈥 biliteracy across the PK-12 continuum, Heineke added.

Promote seal programs

Having a purpose in mind and strategies in place as to how all students can access a seal recognition won鈥檛 do much if students and educators aren鈥檛 aware of the option.

To ensure information is shared widely, Heineke said district leaders should ask themselves: 鈥淗ow do you get the word out efficiently and effectively to students, to families, to educators, to community members about other initiatives that take priority in your district? In what ways do you have the capacity to extend these communications in multiple languages?鈥

Some strategies that have worked in districts include: a dedicated webpage for the seal of biliteracy; disseminating letters to students and families with information about the program; posting on social media; and gathering students for meetings to learn more about how to attain a seal.

Explaining the benefits of earning a seal of biliteracy is essential in any promotion and communications. Research has found benefits for students pursuing higher education after attaining the seal. Pitches can be made on the value of multilingualism in the job market, and more.

For districts that are refining existing efforts, Heineke suggested surveying how many students and educators are even aware of a seal program.

Think broadly about partnerships when implementing seal programs

Throughout the implementation and management of seal programs, parents, students, educators, and community leaders must have the opportunity to share input on what they hope the goals of the program should be and how to meet them, Davin said.

There may be students with proficiency in a second language that isn鈥檛 formally taught in schools. How can they earn the seal? Solutions to questions like that may be found within a broader school community.

State education agencies can play a role in supporting such partnerships too. The Connecticut department of education created a seal of biliteracy listserv to connect district leaders seeking support in implementing and sustaining seal programs.

Select the right proficiency assessment for your school or district

When it comes to choosing how to assess students鈥 language proficiency for a seal of biliteracy, districts have a variety of options.

Some key questions Davin suggests district leaders consider:

  • Do students have to pass a language proficiency assessment to earn a seal of biliteracy?
  • Or are there other pathways through which they can demonstrate or provide evidence of their proficiency?
  • When should students take the assessment? Are you going to do it during the school day? Are you going to do it after school?
  • What鈥檚 the procedure for awarding the seal if a student鈥檚 language is not taught in school?
  • What are the technology requirements since most assessments require students to listen and respond to spoken prompts?

For the sake of equity, leaders must also think about whether the seal is only available to students in world language classes or Advanced Placement classes.

Many states also have alternative assessment policies where students can create a language portfolio, or get certification from an indigenous nation to count toward the seal, Davin said.

鈥淭here are a lot of individuals across the country who have done this already. So you might be able to find someone who鈥檚 already created [an assessment], if you need it,鈥 Davin added.

Events

School & District Management Webinar Crafting Outcomes-Based Contracts That Work for Everyone
Discover the power of outcomes-based contracts and how they can drive student achievement.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in 69传媒
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: What鈥檚 Trending among K-12 Leaders?
What issues are keeping K-12 leaders up at night? Join us for EdMarketer Quick Hit: What鈥檚 Trending among K-12 Leaders?

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide 鈥 elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

English Learners Opinion Teacher Tips for Supporting English Learners
69传媒' stress over learning a new language in a new environment can affect their academic success. Proper support can ease that.
11 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
English Learners Explainer Undocumented 69传媒 Have the Right to a Free Education. This Is Why
A landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling protected undocumented students' access to free public education. Some lawmakers seek to overturn it.
8 min read
69传媒 at Valencia Newcomer School wait to change classes Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Phoenix. Children from around the world are learning the English skills and American classroom customs they need to succeed at so-called newcomer schools. Valencia Newcomer School in Phoenix is among a handful of such public schools in the United States dedicated exclusively to helping some of the thousands of children who arrive in the country annually.
69传媒 at Valencia Newcomer School wait to change classes Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Phoenix. Children from around the world are learning the English skills and American classroom customs they need to succeed at so-called newcomer schools. Under a 1982 Supreme Court precedent, public schools can't charge tuition to children who are new arrivals in the United States.
Ross D. Franklin/AP
English Learners English Learners With Disabilities: The Rules 69传媒 Have to Follow
69传媒 can't force English learners with disabilities to choose between special ed. and language instruction鈥攁nd other tips from OCR.
4 min read
Photo of teacher and blind student using braille slate.
E+
English Learners Q&A A Teacher Makes the Case for Using AI With English Learners
Sarah Said teaches her high school English learners how to responsibly use AI tools for language learning.
4 min read
Image of the concept of AI integrated into the classroom.
Stephanie Shafer for Education Week