1. The State Seal of Biliteracy
Presentation for MPS families
March 2019

3. Where does your child attend school?
Introductions
World Language Curriculum Team Lead (9-12) & Italian Teacher - Liz Allegrezza
English Learner Curriculum Team Lead (9-12) & ESL Teacher - Silvia Fomin
English Learner Coordinator (6-12) - Kelly Sabini
English Learner Program Director (PreK-12) - Jenn Noorjanian
Spanish Teacher & Spanish National Honor Society Advisor (9-12) - Lily Vazquez
Where does your child attend school?

4. What is the State Seal of Biliteracy?
It is part of a new law - the LOOK Act - signed by Gov. Baker in November of 2017
It is an award given by a school, school district, or state to recognize students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation
It is a seal that will be affixed to the High School diploma of students who prove highly literate in English and a language other than English
It is listed on the student’s transcript if obtained by the Junior year

5. The State Seal of Biliteracy Purpose
Prepares students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society
Encourages students to study and master languages
Certifies attainment of biliteracy skills
Recognizes the value of language diversity
Strengthens intergroup communication and honors the multiple cultures and languages in a community, and
Provides universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for the attainment of high-level skills in languages

6. Criteria to Earn the State Seal of Biliteracy
English Language Criteria
Obtain a score of 240 or more on the ELA grade 10 MCAS
English proficiency on ACCESS for ELLs with an overall score of at least level 4.2 and a composite literacy score of at least level 3.9
World Language Criteria
Attain a score or level at the Intermediate-High level of the AAPPL Assessment, or
Obtain a score 4 on the Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Culture exam

7. Criteria to Earn the State Seal of Biliteracy WITH DISTINCTION
English Language Criteria
Obtain a score of 260 or more on the ELA grade 10 MCAS
World Language Criteria
Attain a score or level at the Advanced-Low level of the AAPPL Assessment, or
Obtain a score 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Culture exam

8. When can MHS students take the AAPPL exam this year to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy?
Exam date: Friday, April 12, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Register by: Friday, April 5th, 2019*
Cost: $20 (check made out to Town of Milford)
Payment: to Sue Cedrone by Friday, April 5th, 2019
Languages: Arabic, Chinese, ESL (English), French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai.
* Students who do not register by this date will be ineligible to take the AAPPL at MHS in Spring 2019.

9. How to register for the AAPPL exam
Fill out registration form by Friday, April 5th, 2019:
Online: link is available on the MHS website
Paper copy: available tonight
Submit this form and the payment to Sue Cedrone in House A.

10. Want to know more about the Seal of Biliteracy?
Visit:
The DESE website:
The Seal of Biliteracy website:
MA Language Opportunity Coalition:
MaFLA website:

11. QUESTIONS