98. Awards Seals of Bilingualism and Biliteracy on high school diplomas.

Partnerships and P-12 Education Systems 09.6.24

Here’s what the federal government can do:

  • Congress should appropriate funding for programs that invest in dual-language programs and multilingual educator training pathways.
  • The U.S. Department of Education should issue guidance defining one-way dual-language immersion and two-way dual-language immersion programs.[i]
  • The U.S. Department of Education should collect, conduct, and disseminate research on best practices to support multilingual learners (MLLs) through dual-language immersion programs.

Here’s what state government can do:

  • State legislatures should invest in dual-language programs and prioritize multilingual educator training pathways.
  • State legislatures should require higher education institutions to recognize the Seal of Biliteracy as credit equivalent to language courses taken in postsecondary education.

Here’s what institutional leaders can do:

  • School districts should award the Seals of Bilingualism or Biliteracy on high school diplomas.
  • Schools should reserve seats for MLLs in dual-immersion programs offered in their native languages.
  • Higher education institutions should recognize the Seal of Biliteracy as credit equivalent to language courses taken in postsecondary education.

The nation’s foundational strengths lie within its linguistically, culturally, and racially diverse society. Policymakers must work together to cultivate learning opportunities for students to continue growing in their multilingual abilities. The Seal of Biliteracy, developed in 2008 by Californians Together, can be awarded by a school, district, or state to students who have studied and attained proficiencies in two or more languages by high school graduation. All 50 states and Washington, D.C. have adopted a Seal of Biliteracy along with a growing number of school districts that are prioritizing access to dual-immersion programs for their students.[i]

“Multilingualism is a superpower…As our nation continues to grow more diverse, and as our global economy becomes more interconnected, we cannot seize our nation’s full potential to compete and lead the world unless we Raise the Bar and provide all students with opportunities to become multilingual.”– U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

For more information, see Californians Together resources on the Seal of Biliteracy.

[i]One-way dual language classrooms are made up of students predominantly from one language group, either English or another language. Two-way dual language classrooms include children who are fluent in a language other than English alongside fluent English speakers.

[ii]“The Seal of Biliteracy.” Seal of Biliteracy. https://sealofbiliteracy.org/faq#:~:text=Over%20165%20school%20districts%20are,entities%20have%20endorsed%20the%20Seal.