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PA Seal of Biliteracy

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April 14, 2023

Dear Upper Merion Area High School students and families,

We are pleased to inform you of our new process to identify and honor our Junior and Senior students who are proficient in more than one language.  Graduating seniors who demonstrate that they are bilingual will be recognized with an official Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy.

In the spring of 2022, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) authorized school districts to award graduating students with a Seal of Biliteracy that honors students who are fluent in two or more languages.  Upper Merion’s Seal of Biliteracy committee has established a criteria for determining who qualifies for the award based on PDE’s guidance.  The criteria are quite rigorous, as students need to demonstrate fluency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in both languages.

A Seal of Biliteracy is a statement by the school system that mastery of two or more languages is important. It encourages students to pursue biliteracy, honors the skills our students attain, and can be evidence of skills that are attractive to future employers and college admissions offices.  Pennsylvania is the 45th state to have such a designation.

The purpose of Pennsylvania’s Seal of Biliteracy is to:

  • recognize the value of world language and dual language programs in PA schools;

  • affirm the value of cultural and linguistic diversity in our schools and communities;

  • encourage family and community support for the development of home languages other than English, as well as the study of additional world languages and cultures;

  • encourage all students to acquire proficiency in English and another world language;

  • certify intermediate-high proficiency in English and another world language;

  • provide employers with a method of identifying candidates with biliteracy skills;

  • provide universities with a method to recognize biliterate students; and

  • promote civic and global engagement.

Students have four options for demonstrating proficiency in English and four options for demonstrating proficiency in a World Language.  Pennsylvania Department of Education provides greater detail in this toolkit.  Final determinations for the award are made by the Upper Merion Area School District Seal of Biliteracy committee, which is comprised of administrators, teachers, and parents.  Students who are interested in earning the Seal of Biliteracy should talk to their ESL teacher, their world language teacher, or their school counselor for more information regarding this process.  Application deadline is Friday, April 28, 2023.

Click here for the application form in PDF format.

PENNSYLVANIA SEAL OF BILITERACY APPLICATION – Upper Merion Area High School

By awarding the Seal of Biliteracy, Upper Merion Area High School certifies a graduating high school student has attained an intermediate-high level of proficiency in English and one or more world languages and certifies that the graduate has met all the defined requirements.

Directions to Applicants:

1. Complete all sections of the application.

2. Submit your application and documentation of qualifying scores to your school counselor either no later than May 1st of your junior for early recognition or May 1st of your senior year.

Name:________________________________________ Date:________________________

Current Grade Level:____________________________ Expected Year of Graduation:_____

Languages spoken, listing native language first:____________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

(For example if family speaks Farsi and student is proficient in English, list languages as Farsi-English. If family speaks English and student learned German, list English-German.)

Name of School Counselor:_______________________________________

I understand that I must meet all of the following:

1. Complete all requirements to earn a high school diploma;

2. Meet any one of the defined English Proficiency Criteria Options; and

3. Meet any one of the defined World Language Proficiency Criteria Options

 

Student signature:___________________________________________

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For Faculty / Guidance Counselor Use Only

English Proficiency Criteria Options 1-4:

  • Proficient or Advanced on Keystone Literacy Exam or PASA

  • Exit ESL program by Oct 1 of graduating year

  • 3 or higher on AP Language or AP Literature Exam or practice exam

  • Present a portfolio demonstrating intermediate-high proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, writing as determined by the Upper Merion Seal of Biliteracy committee

World Language Proficiency Criteria Options 1-4: Language:_____________________

  • International transcript showing 3 years of instruction in Grade 8 or beyond with B avg

  • Score of intermediate-high or higher on an approved world language assessment

  • Score of intermediate-high or higher on community-based world language assessment

  • Present a portfolio demonstrating intermediate-high proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, writing as determined by the Upper Merion Seal of Biliteracy committee

 

Awarded Seal of Biliteracy? Yes No Date:_____________