HB4330 EngrossedLRB099 15013 NHT 39336 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
52-3.159 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.159)
7    Sec. 2-3.159. State Seal of Biliteracy.
8    (a) In this Section, "foreign language" means any language
9other than English, including all modern languages, Latin,
10American Sign Language, Native American languages, and native
11languages.
12    (b) The State Seal of Biliteracy program is established to
13recognize public high school graduates who have attained a high
14level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to
15English. The State Seal of Biliteracy shall be awarded
16beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. School district
17participation in this program is voluntary.
18    (c) The purposes of the State Seal of Biliteracy are as
19follows:
20        (1) To encourage pupils to study languages.
21        (2) To certify attainment of biliteracy.
22        (3) To provide employers with a method of identifying
23    people with language and biliteracy skills.

 

 

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1        (4) To provide universities with an additional method
2    to recognize applicants seeking admission.
3        (5) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills.
4        (6) To recognize the value of foreign language and
5    native language instruction in public schools.
6        (7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the
7    value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and
8    languages of a community.
9    (d) The State Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a
10high level of proficiency, sufficient for meaningful use in
11college and a career, by a graduating public high school pupil
12in one or more languages in addition to English.
13    (e) The State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as
14may be necessary to establish the criteria that pupils must
15achieve to earn a State Seal of Biliteracy, which may include
16without limitation attainment of units of credit in English
17language arts and languages other than English and passage of
18such assessments of foreign language proficiency as may be
19approved by the State Board of Education for this purpose.
20These rules shall ensure that the criteria that pupils must
21achieve to earn a State Seal of Biliteracy meet the course
22credit criteria established under subsection (i) of this
23Section.
24    (f) The State Board of Education shall do both of the
25following:
26        (1) Prepare and deliver to participating school

 

 

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1    districts an appropriate mechanism for designating the
2    State Seal of Biliteracy on the diploma and transcript of
3    the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a
4    State Seal of Biliteracy by the State Board of Education.
5        (2) Provide other information the State Board of
6    Education deems necessary for school districts to
7    successfully participate in the program.
8    (g) A school district that participates in the program
9under this Section shall do both of the following:
10        (1) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify
11    pupils who have earned a State Seal of Biliteracy.
12        (2) Make the appropriate designation on the diploma and
13    transcript of each pupil who earns a State Seal of
14    Biliteracy.
15    (h) No fee shall be charged to a pupil to receive the
16designation pursuant to this Section. Notwithstanding this
17prohibition, costs may be incurred by the pupil in
18demonstrating proficiency, including without limitation any
19assessments required under subsection (e) of this Section.
20    (i) For admissions purposes, each public university in this
21State shall accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent
22to 2 years of foreign language coursework taken during high
23school if a student's high school transcript indicates that he
24or she will be receiving or has received the State Seal of
25Biliteracy.
26    (j) Each public community college and public university in

 

 

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1this State shall establish criteria to translate a State Seal
2of Biliteracy into course credit based on foreign language
3course equivalencies identified by the community college's or
4university's faculty and staff and, upon request from an
5enrolled student, the community college or university shall
6award foreign language course credit to a student who has
7received a State Seal of Biliteracy. Students enrolled in a
8public community college or public university who have received
9a State Seal of Biliteracy must request course credit for their
10seal within 3 academic years after graduating from high school.
11(Source: P.A. 98-560, eff. 8-27-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)