Rhode Island Seal of Biliteracy
Seal of Biliteracy Status
Approved State Seal
Adoption Date
2016-06-17
Website(s)
State Contact(s)
- Sarah Steverman
- Rhode Island Foreign Language Association (RIFLA) President
- ssteverman@westerly.k12.ri.us
Rhode Island State Info:
- Now that House Bill 7607 has been signed into law, high school students receiving the Silver/Gold Seal of Biliteracy can earn 2 to 4 semesters of college credit toward a major or minor in language at a Rhode Island public university or community college if requested within 3 yrs. after high school graduation!
CHAPTER 22.2
RHODE ISLAND BILITERACY SEAL
16-22.2-1. Legislative intent. --
- It is the intent of the legislature to encourage excellence for all pupils, and the legislature wishes to publicly recognize pupils for exemplary achievements in academic studies.
- The study of languages other than English in elementary and secondary schools should be encouraged because it contributes to a pupil's cognitive development and to our national economy and security.
- Proficiency in multiple languages is critical in enabling Rhode Island to participate effectively in a global political, social, and economic context, and inexpanding trade with other countries.
- The demand for employees to be fluent in more than one language is increasing both in Rhode Island and throughout the world.
- The benefits to employers in having staff fluent in more than one languageare clearand includeaccess to an expanded market, allowing business owners to better serve their customers' needs, and the sparking of new marketing ideas that better target aparticular audience and open a channel of communication with customers.
- It is the intent of the legislature to promote linguistic proficiencyand cultural literacy in one or more languages in addition to English and to provide recognition of the attainment of those needed and importantskills through the establishment of the state seal of biliteracy. A state seal of biliteracy would be affixed on the high school diplomas and transcripts of graduating pupils attaining proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English.
16-22.2-2. State seal of biliteracy. --
- A state seal of biliteracy is established to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.The state seal of biliteracy shall be awarded by the commissioner. School district participation in this program shall be voluntary.
- The purposes of the state seal of biliteracy are as follows:
- To encourage pupils to study languages;
- To certify attainment of biliteracy;
- To provide employers with a methodof identifying people with language and biliteracy skills;
- To provide universities with an additional method to recognize applicants seeking admission;
- To prepare pupils with twenty-first century skills;
- To recognizethe value of foreign language and native language instruction in public schools. For the purpose of this section "foreign language" means any language other than English including all modern languages, Latin, American sign language, native American languages and native languages; and
- To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community.
- The state seal of biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school pupil in one or more languages, in addition to English.
- The council on elementary and secondary education 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 biliteracy, which may include, but shall not be limited to, attainment of units of credit in English language arts and languages other than English, passage of state assessments in English language arts and language other th an English, and passage of such additional assessments of foreign language proficiency as may be approved by the commissioner for this purpose.
- The commissioner shall do both of the following:
- Prepare and deliver to participating school districts an appropriate insignia to be affixed to the diploma and transcript of the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a state seal of biliteracy by the commissioner.
- Provide other information they deem necessary for school districts to successfully participate in the program.
- A school district that participates in the program under this section shall do both of the following:
- Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who have earned astate seal of biliteracy.
- Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma and transcript of each pupil who earns a state seal of biliteracy.
- No fee shall be charged to a pupil pursuant to this section.