New Mexico Seal of Biliteracy

Seal of Biliteracy Status

Approved State Seal

Adoption Date

2014-03-08

Website(s)

Visit Site

State Contact(s)

Kadriye El-Atwani
Kadriye.El-Atwani@state.nm.us

New Mexico State Info:

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; PROVIDING FOR A STATE SEAL OF BILINGUALISM-BILITERACY ON NEW MEXICO DIPLOMAS OF EXCELLENCE FOR GRADUATES WHO ARE PROFICIENT IN SPEAKING AND WRITING A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH.

New Mexico Seal of Biliteracy Updates

Apr-12-2016
1003.432 Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program for high school graduates.

This act shall take effect July 1, 2016
1. As used in this section, the term:
  - (a) "Biliteracy" means attainment of a high level of competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more foreign languages in addition to English, which is signified on a high school graduate's diploma and transcript as either a Gold Seal of Biliteracy or a Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
  - (b) "Foreign language" means a language other than English and includes American Sign Language, classical languages, and indigenous languages.
  - (c) "Gold" means the highest level of competency certified by the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program.
  - (d) "Silver" means the second-highest level of competency certified by the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program.
2. The Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program is established to recognize a high school graduate who has attained a high level of competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more foreign languages in addition to English. The Commissioner of Education shall award the Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation to a high school student who meets the qualifications in this section. The seal must differentiate between two levels of competency, designated as Gold and Silver, which must be at least as rigorous as is recommended in the biliteracy seal guidelines established by national organizations supporting foreign languages instruction.
3. The purpose of the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program is to:
  - (a) Encourage students to study foreign languages.
  - (b) Certify attainment of biliteracy.
  - (c) Provide employers with a method of identifying an individual with biliteracy skills who is seeking employment.
  - (d) Provide a postsecondary institution with a method of recognizing an applicant with biliteracy skills who is seeking admission to the postsecondary institution.
  - (e) Recognize and promote foreign language instruction in public schools.
  - (f) Affirm the value of diversity, honor multiple cultures and foreign languages, and strengthen the relationships between multiple cultures in a community.
4. Beginning with the 2016 - 2017 school year, the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy must be awarded to a high school student who has earned a standard high school diploma and who:
  - (a) Has earned four foreign language course credits in the same foreign language with a cumulative 3.0 grade point average or higher on a 4.0 scale;
  - (b) Has achieved a qualifying score on a foreign language assessment; or
  - (c) Has satisfied alternative requirements as determined by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (8).
5. The Commissioner of Education shall:
  - (a) Prepare and provide to each school district an appropriate insignia to be affixed to the student's diploma indicating that the student has been awarded the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
  - (b) Provide information necessary for a school district to successfully implement the program.
6. Each school district shall:
  - (a) Maintain appropriate records to identify a student who has met the requirements to receive the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
  - (b) Provide the Commissioner of Education with the number of students who have met the requirements to receive the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
  - (c) Affix the appropriate insignia to the student's diploma and indicate on the student's transcript that the student has earned the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
7. A school district or the Department of Education may not charge a fee for the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
8. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this section. Such rules, at a minimum, must include:
  - (a) A process to confirm a student's successful completion of the requirements in subsection (4).
  - (b) The assessments and corresponding passing scores required to earn the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy, which may not be lower than the passing scores on at least one of the following:
    1. An International Baccalaureate examination in the foreign language;
    2. An Advanced Placement examination in the foreign language;
    3. An SAT Subject Test examination in the foreign language; or
    4. An Advanced International Certificate of Education examination in the foreign language.
  - (c) Alternative requirements a student may satisfy to demonstrate equivalent competency in a foreign language, including requirements a student whose native language is not English may satisfy to demonstrate competency in his or her native language to earn the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
  - (d) A process to award foreign language course credits to a student who was not enrolled in a foreign language course or who did not complete the course but has demonstrated competency in a foreign language as provided in this subsection.
Section 41. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon this act becoming law, this act shall take effect July 1, 2016.

Recent State Updates

- North Dakota
- Feb-19-2019
- The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) is proud to announce the implementation of the North Dakota Seal of Biliteracy (NDSB) award program. The NDSB is an award presented to graduating students who have demonstrated proficiency in a language in addition to English.
  
  North Dakota joins more than half of the nation in awarding a Seal of Biliteracy. The NDSB is established to recognize students and provide an identifier of this accomplishment for employers and post-secondary institutions. The NDSB serves to inspire the implementation of biliteracy programs and pathways of language development in districts across the state and help districts demonstrate value in diversity/culture.
  
  The NDSB is awarded by the NDDPI according to the specific criteria presented in the attached guidance document. Each student will receive a physical foil seal on their high school diploma, a certificate from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and an identifier on the student's eTranscript. School district participation in the program is completely voluntary.
  
  Please review the attached documents and determine how this program could be implemented in the district. Additional information is available on the NDDPI website.
- Iowa
- Apr-18-2018
- Palm Beach School District has just approved the Seal of Biliteracy. Miami Dade School District approved it last week.
  - Dr. Andrés Ramírez
  Assistant Professor
  Curriculum, Culture and Educational Inquiry
  Florida Atlantic University
- Iowa
- Apr-18-2018
- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie approved a statewide Seal of Biliteracy. The legislation passed earlier this month by the New Jersey Senate (37-0) and New Jersey Assembly (72-2).
- Iowa
- Apr-18-2018
- Does anyone have any tools or strategies to assess less common languages? I wonder if there are easily-understood checklists that volunteers can use to assess student work?
- Vermont
- Feb-11-2018
- Over 100 high school students earned the "Arkansas Biliteracy Award" certification in October 2017. The Arkansas Biliteracy Committee, a partnership with AFLTA (Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers Association) and ARKTESOL (Arkansas Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages), is moving forward with data collection and packaging for the "Seal of Biliteracy" proposal this spring. The website is www.ARbiliteracy.org