Department of Multilingual Services
Seal of Biliteracy: Updates and Highlights
Samuel Aguirre and Madeleine Polovick
Bilingual Directors Conference
September 26, 2019
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
Agenda
History of the Seal and Commendation
Overview of requirements for program participation
New Application
Seal and Commendation Proficiency Requirements
Data, Trends, and Stories
Key dates
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
3
SEAL AND COMMENDATION HISTORY
3
Seal of Biliteracy History
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
Concept developed by Californians Together (2008)
California was 1st state to adopt (2011)
Illinois was 4th state to adopt (2013)
Awarded in 37 states and Washington, D.C.
Under consideration in 3 states, and early stages in9 others
In Illinois: Statute changes now permit awards to public and non-public high school students.
What is a Seal of Biliteracy?
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
For Illinois high school graduates who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in four domains in:
English, and
A language other than English
Seal designated on the student’s diploma and transcript
Why the Seal of Biliteracy?
Encourages the study of other languages
Benefits to the student
Increasing employment and academic opportunities
Benefits to the global community
Communicating with people from other cultures
Developing economic opportunities
What is the Commendation toward Biliteracy?
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
The Commendation towardBiliteracy is awarded to students who demonstrate progress toward biliteracy, but do not fully meet the requirements of the Seal of Biliteracy.
(23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.442(c))
8
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
8
General Program Requirements
Designate district coordinator
Notification of Participation by 10/1
Application on SIS
Participation in Training
Making decisions about district’s program
Inform families and students about the program
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
General Program Requirements, Cont.
Create the Seal or Commendation itself
Identify students who qualify
No age or grade requirement
Awarding the Seal or Commendation
Annual report
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New application on SIS
Located on IWAS in SIS
District Seal of Biliteracy coordinator must have access to SIS to complete application
Must first have enrolled students on SIS before application is available to submit
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
12
MEETING PROFICIENCY
12
Methods to Qualify
Standard Assessment Method
The Alternative Portfolio Method, used when: Intermediate mid composite score, or its equivalent, on a
standardized assessment in the four domains of the target language;
No standardized assessment exists for targeted language;
The standardized assessment for a student with disabilities is inappropriate; or
The standardized assessment for targeted foreign language does not assess one or more of the four domains
Using methods that are not on ISBE’s approved list
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
Demonstrating Proficiency in English: Seal of Biliteracy
1. ELP on ACCESS in 9-12th grade (Emergent Bilingual)*2. “Meets” or “exceeds” in ELA on SAT*3. ACTFL Intermediate High on TOEFL, TOEIC, etc*4. ACT Composite of 21 or meets college ready
benchmark for English area test*5. Final ELA GPA of 3.0 or above with college credit*6. Scores a 5 on AP English Language and Composition
Exam*
*Will qualify for Commendation if student doesn’t meet Seal criteria in World Language category
Demonstrating Proficiency in English: Commendation toward Biliteracy
1. 3.5 overall composite on ACCESS in 9-12th grade (Emergent Bilingual)
2. ACTFL Intermediate Low or above on TOEFL, TOEIC, etc
3. ACT Composite of 21 or meets college ready benchmark for English area test
4. Final ELA GPA of 2.5 of above with college credit
Demonstrating Proficiency in a Language Other than English
Seal of Biliteracy:
ACTFL Intermediate High on TOEFL, TOEIC, etc*
Commendation towards Biliteracy:
ACTFL Intermediate Low on TOEFL, TOEIC, etc
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DATA, TRENDS, AND STORIES
18
Whole Child ● Whole School ● Whole Community 19
Other4%
Arabic1% Chinese
4%
French10%
German3%
Italian2%
Polish2%
Spanish74%
SY 2017-2018 Award Data
o 5,756 awards
o 86 school districts
o 23 languages
Seal of Biliteracy
Additional Represented Languages
BulgarianGreekHebrewHindiJapaneseKoreanLatinLithuanian
PortugueseRomanianRussianSerbianTurkishUkrainianUrdu
Commendation Towards Biliteracy
o 3,057 awards
o 58 school districts
o 17 languages
Additional Represented Languages
BulgarianGreekHebrewHindiJapanese
KoreanLatinLithuanianPortugueseRussian
Arabic1% Chinese
4%
French9%
German3%
Italian2%
Polish2%
Spanish76%
Other3%
Seal & Commendation Awards
504
2693
4444
5756
214
959
2601
3057
2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Nu
mb
er o
f A
war
ds
School Year
Seal
Comm
Districts Awarding Seals & Commendations
15
44
70
86
14
32
47
58
2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Nu
mb
er o
f D
istr
icts
School Year
Seal
Comm
Languages Represented in Seal & Commendation Awards
10
17
18
23
6
9
14
17
2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Nu
mb
er o
f La
ngu
ages
School Year
Seal
Comm
Impact on Emergent Bilinguals: Seal of Biliteracy
71200
1171
1634
11
25
205
184
2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Nu
mb
er o
f R
ecip
ien
ts
School Year
EB
Former EB
Impact on Emergent Bilinguals: Commendation toward Biliteracy
7 54
567622
24
31
269 138
2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Nu
mb
er o
f R
ecip
ien
ts
School Year
EB
Former EB
25
KEY DATES
25
Key Dates
Dates Activity
October 1, 2019 4:00pm
Or, 45 days prior to awarding the Seal/Commendation
Seal of Biliteracy application for SY 2020 due
October 15, 2019 4:00pm
Seal of Biliteracy Award data for SY2019due*Note: This year only due to recent reporting code changes
At least 45 days prior to awarding Seal/Commendation
Program Coordinator completes the mandatory annual training
30 days after school year ends Submit final report to ISBE
Whole Child • Whole School • Whole Community
Questions?
Department of Multilingual Serviceshttps://www.isbe.net/SealofBiliteracy
[email protected](312) 814-3850