Article 6. State Seal Of Biliteracy of California Education Code >> Division 4. >> Title 2. >> Part 28. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 6.
(a) The State Seal of Biliteracy is established to recognize
high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency
in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in
addition to English. The State Seal of Biliteracy shall be awarded by
the Superintendent. School district participation in this program is
voluntary.
(b) The purposes of the State Seal of Biliteracy are as follows:
(1) To encourage pupils to study languages.
(2) To certify attainment of biliteracy.
(3) To provide employers with a method of identifying people with
language and biliteracy skills.
(4) To provide universities with a method to recognize and give
academic credit to applicants seeking admission.
(5) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills.
(6) To recognize and promote foreign language instruction in
public schools.
(7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of
diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a
community.
(a) 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, and certifies that the
graduate meets all of the following criteria:
(1) Completion of all English language arts requirements for
graduation with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above in
those classes.
(2) Passing the California Standards Test in English language arts
administered in grade 11 at the proficient level or above.
(3) Proficiency in one or more languages other than English,
demonstrated through one of the following methods:
(A) Passing a foreign language Advanced Placement examination with
a score of 3 or higher or an International Baccalaureate examination
with a score of 4 or higher.
(B) Successful completion of a four-year high school course of
study in a foreign language, and attaining an overall grade point
average of 3.0 or above in that course of study.
(C) If no Advanced Placement examination or off-the-shelf language
test exists and the school district can certify to the
Superintendent that the test meets the rigor of a four-year high
school course of study in that foreign language, passing a school
district language examination that, at a minimum, assesses speaking,
reading, and writing in a language other than English at the
proficient level or higher. If a school district offers a language
examination in a language in which an Advanced Placement examination
or off-the-shelf language test exists, the school district language
examination shall be approved by the Superintendent for the purpose
of determining proficiency in a language other than English.
(D) Passing the SAT II foreign language examination with a score
of 600 or higher.
(b) If the primary language of a pupil in any of grades 9 to 12,
inclusive, is other than English, he or she shall do both of the
following in order to qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy:
(1) Attain the early advanced proficiency level on the English
language development test. For purposes of this paragraph, a
participating school district may administer the English language
development test an additional time as necessary.
(2) Meet the requirements of subdivision (a).
(c) For languages in which an Advanced Placement test is not
available, the Superintendent may provide a listing of equivalent
summative tests that school districts may use in place of an Advanced
Placement test for purposes of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a). A school district may provide the Superintendent
with a list of equivalent summative tests that the district uses in
place of an Advanced Placement test for purposes of subparagraph (A)
of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a). The Superintendent may use lists
received from school districts in developing his or her list of
equivalent summative tests.
(d) For purposes of this article, "foreign language" means a
language other than English, and includes American Sign Language.
The Superintendent shall do both of the following:
(a) Prepare and deliver to participating school districts an
appropriate insignia to be affixed to the diploma or transcript of
the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a State Seal of
Biliteracy by the Superintendent.
(b) Provide other information it deems necessary for school
districts to successfully participate in the program.
A school district that participates in the program under
this article shall do both of the following:
(a) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who
have earned a State Seal of Biliteracy.
(b) Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma or transcript of
each pupil who earns a State Seal of Biliteracy.
It is the intent of the Legislature that no fee be charged
to a pupil pursuant to this article.