1. Candace Black Eastridge High School
The New York State Seal of Biliteracy NYSAFLT Rochester Regional Conference March 7, 2015
Candace Black
Eastridge High School

2. Workshop agenda What is the Seal of Biliteracy
History of the Seal of Biliteracy
Why should NY schools offer the Seal of Biliteracy?
The Pilot Program
Process for identifying students
Earning the Seal, the Pathway Awards & Potential New Pathway to Graduation
Portfolio (evidence of biliteracy)
How to get more information on the Seal of Biliteracy

3. What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
An award given by a school, district or county office of education in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages (one of which is English) by high school graduation
Takes the form of a gold seal that appears on the transcript or diploma of the graduating senior

4. History of the Seal of Biliteracy
California initiated the first State Seal of Biliteracy in
In 2012, New York State enacted legislation modeled after California to create the NYS Seal of Biliteracy.
East Irondequoit was selected as one of 12 schools to pilot this program in the school year.
The State Education Department will gather information on how pilot schools have planned for and implemented their school- based Seal of Biliteracy programs and will use this information to develop statewide guidelines for the following year ( ).

5. Why should NY schools offer the Seal of Biliteracy?
The Seal of Biliteracy provides a means by which schools can honor those students who have achieved mastery in two world languages, one of which is English.
The Seal can be a motivating factor for students to continue with world language study throughout their high school careers.
The Biliteracy program also allows for “Pathway awards” that can be given at the school’s discretion at various points in a student’s academic career (K-11).

6. The Pilot Program
12 schools in NYS were selected by NYSED to develop a plan to implement the Seal of Biliteracy in their schools in the School year.
Identify committee members (LOTE/ESL teachers, guidance counselor, administrators)
Establish meeting monthly meeting dates
Establish a timeline of tasks
Determine eligibility requirements
Identify and work with eligible students
Report back to NYSED on our process

7. Criteria for LOTE student to earn the Seal
We established the following criteria to earn the Seal of Biliteracy at Eastridge HS:
GPA of 3.0 or better in English for 9th & 10th grades to be eligible, including maintaining this average during the 11th & 12th grade years
GPA of 3.0 or GPA of 3.0 or better in LOTE for 9th & 10th grades to be eligible, including maintaining this average during the 11th & 12th grade years
Overall GPA of 2.5 in all academic classes for 9th & 10th grades to be eligible, including maintaining this average during the 11th & 12th grade years
The completion of a student portfolio documenting biliteracy

8. Identifying the students
We worked with our IT department to collect the requested data from our student management system.
The IT representative also provides follow up data each year/quarter to verify student eligibility.
In the spring of sophomore year, LOTE teachers give presentations on the Seal of Biliteracy to students in their LOTE classes.

9. The Student Portfolio
Once student candidates have been identified, a meeting is held in September of the junior year to explain the process.
During the junior and senior years, students will work with their LOTE and English teachers to select from their regular classwork, items to include in their portfolio:
Speaking/listening (recording) – one on-demand and one prepared.
Reading/writing (document) – one on-demand and one prepared.

10. The Student Portfolio
Students select their portfolio entries in both English and LOTE in conjunction with their teachers.
Portfolios are submitted in April of the senior year to be reviewed by the Seal of Biliteracy committee.
Successful candidates are notified via a letter in May.

11. Awarding the Seal In June 2015, successful candidates will receive:
A certificate acknowledging the achievement of the school seal of Biliteracy at a 12th grade awards ceremony
A notation in the graduation ceremony program indicating the earning of the Seal of Biliteracy
In June of 2016, successful candidates will receive all of the above plus a gold seal on the official diploma

12. ENL students
The Seal of Biliteracy can also be awarded to student whose mother tongue is other than English.
They must meet the same benchmarks as LOTE students except they will demonstrate literacy in the mother tongue.
Schools must identify special mentors fluent in the mother language of the student to evaluate the portfolio (university contacts).

13. Pathway Awards
Starting in the school year, we also plan to offer 3 pathway awards to students to recognize and encourage achievement in LOTE:
At 2nd grade
At 5th grade
At 8th grade
For each grade, we will have a small ceremony to which parents are invited. Students will receive a certificate and perhaps a small token gift.

14. The Future of the Seal of Biliteracy
We anticipate that the NY State Education Department will publish formal guidelines for all NYS schools wishing to offer the Seal of Biliteracy starting with the class of
The State will develop an official seal which participating schools will be eligible to affix to students’ transcripts beginning in June 2016.