Introducing Ohio’s Seal of Biliteracy Program

September 2017

To Begin…

...Five Important Questions

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1. What is a Seal of Biliteracy?

An award given by a school, district or state to recognize graduating seniors who can demonstrate high levels of proficiency in English and at least one other language.

Seals of Biliteracy Nationwide

Source: http://sealofbiliteracy.org/

2. What is biliteracy?

The ability to communicate with a high level of proficiency in two languages.

Biliterate communication requires: • Literacy: the ability to read and write
AND

• Oracy: the ability to listen/comprehend and speak/sign.

3. What is proficiency?

The ability of an individual to use culturally appropriate language to communicate spontaneously in non-rehearsed contexts with a high degree of competence.

Also:

• The degree of skill with which a person can use language to comprehend, speak, read, write and sign in real-life situations.

4. Who can participate?

Participation in the Seal of Biliteracy is voluntary and open to:

•Public schools and districts •Private schools
•Chartered and non-chartered schools •Homeschooled students

5. What is the implementation timeline? Spring-Summer 2017:

• Gather and incorporate stakeholder input into draft rule for approval by the Achievement and Graduation Requirements Committee.
• Approval by the full State Board of Education • Begin drafting implementation guidance.

Winter 2017:	Summer-Fall 2017:

• Gather input from advisory group.
• Draft Seal of Biliteracy rule.

• JCARR review.
• Final SBOE adoption.
• Finalize implementation guidance and professional development modules.
• Roll-out program across Ohio.

Guidance

Ohio Sub. Senate Bill 3 (2016)

“The state seal of biliteracy shall demonstrate

the attainment of a high level of proficiency

by a graduate of a public or chartered

nonpublic high school in one or more

languages in addition to English, sufficient

for meaningful use in college and a career.”

Sub. Senate Bill 3 (2016) Purposes:
1. Encourage the study of languages; 2. Certify the attainment of biliteracy;
3. Give employers insights on the skills of graduates;

4. Give universities an additional mechanism to identify strong candidates for admission;

5. Prepare students with 21st century skills;

6. Recognize the value of foreign and native language instruction; and

7. Strengthen inter-group relationships and affirm the value of diversity.

Sub. Senate Bill 3 (2016) Provisions:

• State Board of Education approves the Ohio Administrative Code rule establishing the program;

• Department of Education identifies the requirements for students to earn a seal of biliteracy and creates the mechanism for the Seal of Biliteracy to be assigned;

• Program must be available to a wide range of schools;

• Participation is not required – schools/districts decide locally to participate;

Sub. Senate Bill 3 (2016)

Provisions (continued):

• Requires districts to notate the attainment of the Seal of Biliteracy in the transcripts of eligible students (not on their diplomas);

• Requires the Department to provide schools and districts with necessary information (e.g., professional development, guidance); and

• Specifies when fees can and cannot be assessed.

National Guidelines

Seal of Biliteracy Representative Advisory Group

• World Languages

• Immersion Education

• English as a Second Language • Exceptional Children
• Public and Private Schools

• Urban, Suburban, Rural Schools • Career-Tech Programs
• Postsecondary Education

• State Board of Education

• Ohio Department of Education / Higher Education

• OH Parent-Teacher Association • Language Associations
• Administrator Associations • Teacher Unions
• Councils on World Affairs

Ohio’s Graduation Requirements for English Proficiency

A student will be identified at the local level as meeting the requirements for a Seal of Biliteracy in English if the student has met one of the following qualifiers:

• Proficient level on Ohio’s required state test(s) for high school English language arts;

• Remediation-free scores on the English and reading sections of one of the state-recognized college readiness examinations (currently the ACT or SAT English and reading sections);

• Earn a proficient level or higher on a Department-approved alternative assessment; or

• Earn a score of proficient on the Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA).

ACTFL Proficiency Levels

“Expert”

“Storyteller/Worker”

“Survivor” “Parrot”

Immersion (10-12 years) AP / I.B. (4-5 years)

Honors Diploma Earner (3 years)

Typical OH K-12 Language Learner
(2 years)

Foreign Language Requirements

1. Passed an Advanced Placement (AP) foreign language examination with a score of 4 or higher; or

2. Passed an International Baccalaureate (IB) foreign language examination with a score of 5 or higher; or

3. Attained a score of Intermediate High or higher in comprehension, speaking, reading and writing the language based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines found at http://www.actfl.org/, using Department-approved assessments; or

4. Qualified for proficiency-based credits through Ohio’s credit flex program and attained a score of Intermediate High or higher in comprehension, speaking, reading and writing based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines using Department-approved assessments; or

Foreign Language Requirements (continued)

5. Attained a score equivalent to Intermediate High or higher on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines in interpersonal signing, presentational signing and demonstrating understanding ofAmerican Sign Language (ASL) on an American Sign Language assessment approved by the Ohio Department of Education; or

6. Attained a score equivalent to Intermediate High or higher on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines in interpretive reading and presentational writing on a classical language assessment approved by the Ohio Department of Education.

For assistance, contact: Ryan Wertz

Lead Consultant for World Languages Tel. 614-728-4630 Ryan.Wertz@education.ohio.gov

Kathy Shelton

World Language Specialist Tel. 614-995-4840
Kathleen.Shelton@education.ohio.gov

Paula Sondej

World Language Specialist Tel. 614-387-0491 Paula.Sondej@education.ohio.gov

education.ohio.gov

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