The SEAL of BILITERACY The Seal of Biliteracy

The SEAL of BILITERACY The Seal of Biliteracy workshop November 6, 2010 Californians Together Shelly Spiegel-Coleman “Accountability Leadership Institute for English Learner and Immigrant Students”

l“You can tell the values of a society by what it counts. We count what matters to us. ” Albert Schweitzer Are our schools measuring the outcomes that are important to us?

Every era has to ask…… Are our schools preparing our students for the world they are entering? Are we teaching and valuing the skills and type of knowledge students will need in order to function, thrive and lead in this era?

Mastery of two or more languages…. l Cognitive benefits (brain research) l Economic benefits (skills needed in corporate and service sectors and international trade) l Societal need (people who can bridge communities, defense and international understanding) l Family strengthening and cohesion l Educational benefits

Strong research evidence l National Literacy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth (mandated by Congress, released in 2008) l CDE Professional Papers “Improving Education for English Learners: Research-Based Approaches” l Collier and Thomas study of 360, 000 English Learners across five well-implemented models l Petito neuroscience research

And yet…. . l Fastest ever rates of language loss l Less instruction for biliteracy than a decade ago - fewer students taking World Language courses l Persistent achievement gap between English Learners and others l A schooling system that produces monolingualism

There are efforts to reach for a vision of biliteracy l Dual language immersion schools (aka Two Way Immersion) l Heritage language programs and FLES l Districts establishing multilingualism as a goal for all students l and…… a move to recognize and celebrate the attainment of biliteracy

What is a SEAL of Biliteracy? An award granted to high school seniors upon graduation certifying attainment of mastery of two or more languages…… and a system of “pathway” awards from preschool through high school recognizing benchmarks towards biliteracy

l California legislation - passed but then vetoed by the Governor (2 x) l Californians Together campaign (50 + districts for Spring 2010)

Seal of Biliteracy Update School District that have adopted a Seal of Biliteracy: San Francisco Unified School District San Jose Unified Schools District Ceres Unified School District Laton Unified School District Redwood City School District Glendale Unified School District Sweetwater Union High School District Ventura Unified School District Santa Monica Malibu School District Eastside Union High School District Rowland Unified School District Santa Paula Union High School District Borrego Springs Unified School District EL Segundo Unified School District Orange County Educational Arts Academy Azusa Unified School District Baldwin Park Unified School District Colton Joint Unified School District Pajaro Valley Unified School District Pasadena Unified School District Anaheim Union High School District Los Angeles Unified School District Whittier Union High School District Stanislaus County Office of Education Santa Clara County Office of Education Hawthorne Unified School District Antelope Valley Union High School District Newman Crows Landing Unified School District Waterford Unified School District Patterson Joint Unified School District Modesto Unified School District Riverbank Unified School District Turlock Unified School District School Districts working on implementation: Anaheim City School District Oakland Unified School District Ventura County Office of Education Fresno Unified School District San Bernardino Unified School District Lennox School District Lemon Grove Unified School District Palmdale School District Calicameca Language Academy Jurupa Unified School District Encinal High School – Alameda Unified School District EL Rancho Unified School District Lakeside School District Chula Vista Elementary School District

Endorsements and Support l California School Boards Association – sample board policy and administrative regulations l Association of California School Administrators – board vote l California Federation of Teachersresolution l California Teachers Association – board vote

Step 1: Clarify your purpose

WHY? l Recognize achievement l Encourage students to pursue study of another language l Encourage students to develop their home language l Establish the value of bilingualism l Recognize and encourage the use of bilingual skills l Certify for employers and universities that students have needed skills

Step #2: Determine which awards you want to give

Which awards do we want to implement? At which point along the continuum of schooling? Attainment of mastery awards? Certification of service awards? Participation awards?

Step #3: Decide on the criteria and assessment you will use

Criteria and Assessment l. Portfolios (four domains and assignments) l. Demonstration l. Logging hours l. Completion of courses l. Assessments of language skills

Preschool! l Age appropriate oral language skills and vocabulary in the home language l Active engagement with texts l Age appropriate comprehension of home language l Exposure to second language and some ability to reproduce the language and use it for basic exchanges

Redwood City Preschool Pathway Award

Elementary School l Service Award focuses on language proficiency and attitude toward bilingualism l Biliteracy Award focuses on academic achievement in English and another language

Elementary School: Bilingual Service Award l Age appropriate oral/listening proficiency in home language l Age appropriate proficiency in English l Active use of both languages l Ability to write coherently and with purpose in both languages l Log of hours of service using bilingual skills l Positive attitudes and understanding of benefits of bilingualism

Elementary School Biliteracy Award l CSTs in English Language Arts – proficient or above l Demonstrate proficiency in a language other then English – STS at proficient or above in fifth grade, attainment of a level 4 or higher on Spanish LAS

Redwood City Celebration

Middle School: Pursuit of Bilingualism Award Participation in at least two years of Foreign Language class or Native Speakers class with passing grades Standards test in English at proficient or better Oral presentation about 5 careers where bilingualism is important Personal response essay to having attended two cultural events from second language/culture being studied

Middle School: Biliteracy Attainment Award Proficient on STS or district assessment in languages other then English Oral proficiency in language other than English CST at Proficient or Above Average grade of B or above in English classes & World languages/Native language classes Written and oral presentations about bilingualism or cultural experiences For English learners – redesignation to RFEP

High School: Seal of Biliteracy l Successful course completion l Writing Assessment and rubric l Oral interview l Reading assessment l Passage of tests at proficient level l Performance criteria l Application

Seal of Bilteracy Criteria l Complete all requirements for HS diploma and average of 2. 0 on Language Arts courses. Score of Proficient on CELDT for ELs l Demonstrate proficiency in one or more languages other than English by one of the following: (a) AP score or 3+, (b) completion of four years of study in same foreign language with 3. 0, ( c) pass a district-established foreign language exam at proficient level or higher, or (d) pass foreign government’s approved language exam with certificate of competency

Step #4: Strategize and plan for successful implementation

Design the Award

Velazquez Press Medallion

Sweetwater Union High School District Stole

The world is richer than it is possible to express in any one language. Ilya Prigogine Nobel Prize winning scientist

Azusa Unified School District Graduates

Californians Together l Website www. californiantogether. org click on reports for updated resources l Seal of Biliteracy Bulletin – electronic bulletin on latest updates l Keep us informed of your progress in developing and awarding Seals of Biliteracy or pathway awards! Lolaurieo@gmail. com Shelly@californianstogether. org