The Seal of Biliteracy

Merced County Office of Education contacts:

Kathy PonAmelia Jimenez(209) 381-6761

ajimenez@mcoe.org

The Purpose for the Award:

■ Merced County Office of Education, in partnership with participating districts, will present a Biliteracy Seal for each high school student who demonstrates proficiency in English and another world or “Target” Language.

The Rationale for the Award

■Participating educators are committed to creating/affirming an enriched learning environment that actively imparts the value of diversity, and that embraces the cultures and languages of our communities. ■Students who are literate in multiple

languages should be recognized as having a well-rounded education and as having marketable skills.

Eligibility to Apply

To be eligible to apply for the MCOE Seal of Biliteracy, students must:■ Attend high school in a partnering district and are in 11 or

12 grade■ Have gained proficiency in a language other than English■ Have a minimum cumulative grade of 3.0 in English as a

high school student;

OR have met standards or higher on SBAC in 8th or 11th grade;

OR is enrolled in an AP English course

Defining the proficiency level

Recipients of this award are required to:■ Express themselves with clarity and efficacy orally and in writing■ Submit an English Autobiography that demonstrates the ability to

prepare a brief, polished piece of writing■ Provide an on-demand writing in the “Target” Language■ Respond orally in both English and the “Target” Language in an

interview

Score to earn the Seal of Biliteracy:■ Maximum score is 20■ Minimum score is 16 with no score of one or two in any single

assessment (Interviews and Writings)

The Process for a Student

■ Eligibility requirements for applying and earning the Seal○ Use Self-Assessment Checklists to determine if at

Advanced Low or higher○ Conference with World language teacher and/or

community member proficient in the “Target” Language about your level of proficiency

■ Electronically submit SEAL Application ■ Submit Parent Authorization and English Autobiography ■ Provide an on-demand writing essay in the “Target”

Language■ Participate in two interviews, one in English and the other in

the “Target” Language

SEAL Application

■ Serves a critical organizational role■ Triggers the search for the assessors to

match the “Target” Language needs of students who intend to apply

■ Should follow a check for eligibility – not precede it!!

English Autobiography

■ Parent Authorization○ Parent permission to release data, due with English

Autobiography■ School Verification (of test scores)

○ Submitted by the high school and/or district Seal Lead

■ English Autobiography, returned with Parent Authorization, due to MCOE

English Autobiography

■ Organized around 5 questions/prompts■ Completed by the student in English■ Designed to capture information about:

○ Interest and proficiency in“Target” Language○ Authentic connections and real-life use of “Target”

Language○ Language comparisons○ Multicultural experiences

Resources for the English Autobiography

■ Use of the European Language Portfolio is supported by the 29 organizations of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) representing 24 languages.○ European Language Portfolio

http://culture2.coe.int/portfolio/○ LinguaFolio 5-State Pilot

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/linguafolio/○ LinguaFolio Nebraska

http://www.nde.state.ne.us/FORLG/PreK16.htm○ Indiana World Languages site with LinguaFolio links

http://www.doe.state.in.us/opd/wrldlangs/

Biliteracy “Seal Event”

■ Interview in English■ Interview in “Target” Language(s)

Assessment of Proficiency

English proficiency determined by:■ Interview■ Quality of English Autobiography

“Target” Language proficiency determined by:■ Interview■ Quality of on-demand “Target” Language essay

Score to earn the Seal of Biliteracy:■ Maximum Score is 20■ Minimum Score is 16 with no score of one or two in

any single assessment (Interviews and Writings)

Assessment of Students

The assessment of a student will be conducted by a team who will: ■ Review the English Autobiography■ Conduct the interviews■ Assess the on-demand “Target” Language

essay■ Determine if the Seal will be conferred

Role of the World Language Teacher

■ Inform students about the opportunity to earn the Seal of Biliteracy

■ Assist students in determining whether their level of proficiency is sufficient to apply○ Use the Language Assessment Guidelines (Advanced Low is the

appropriate level for application)○ Use the SOLOM Teacher Observation

■ Serve as an assessor■ Help to inform parents about the Seal of Biliteracy

Role of Administrators & Counselors

■ Inform teachers of World Language about the Seal○ Provide written documents○ Direct teachers to the website:

http://www.mcoe.org/instruct/seal/○ Inform teachers about the Seal Information Meetings

■ Inform students and parents about the Seal○ Keep the level of proficiency in mind

■ Recruit assessors■ Celebrate the students who have earned the Seal

District partnership

Partnering Districts will:■ Return a signed MOU to MCOE■ Provide one assessor for every eight

students■ Ensure that students, parents, teachers,

counselors and administrators are informed of the Seal

■ Provide for transcript notation■ Celebrate students who earn the Seal

Getting the word out:

■ Merced COE will inform:○ District superintendents○ Curriculum and Project Directors at Curriculum

Council/Categorical meetings○ Maintain a website: http://www.mcoe.org/instruct/seal/

■ District staffs may participate in Seal Information Meetings

■ Merced COE will provide PowerPoint presentations and access to resources via website

Next steps

■Clarifying questions?■Observations or comments?■Next steps for you?

Thanks for coming!