Sunday, October 24, 2021

FPS participates in MA State Seal of Biliteracy Program

Dear Franklin Families,

We are pleased to inform you of Franklin Public School District’s participation in the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy for the 2021-2022 School Year. The Seal of Biliteracy is for any student who demonstrates proficiency in English and any other language, whether they speak the non-English language at home or learned it at school or in the community. 

The State Seal of Biliteracy aims to:
(a) Encourage students to study and master languages;
(b) Certify attainment of biliteracy skills;
(c) Recognize the value of language diversity;
(d) Provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills;
(e) Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of high-level skills in languages;
(f) Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society; and
(g) Strengthen intergroup communication and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community.*

In order to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students must:

(a) Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by satisfying one of the following:
● Earn a score of 472 or higher on Next-Gen MCAS or
● Earn a score of 455 or higher on Next-Gen MCAS and complete an Educational Proficiency Plan 

(b) Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a foreign language through one of the following:
● Attaining a minimum score equivalent to Intermediate-High on a state approved assessment or
● For languages that do not have readily available assessments, completing a portfolio demonstrating Intermediate-High proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and listening
MA State Seal of Biliteracy
MA State Seal of Biliteracy


We will be administering the ELA MCAS for 12th graders who have not taken the MCAS yet on March 9 and 10 and for 10th graders on March 22 and 23. We will be administering a proficiency assessment in a language other than English on a date to be determined. Students seeking to earn the Seal through portfolio assessment must have portfolio scores submitted to the district prior to their graduation date.

We look forward to honoring the language expertise and diversity in our district through this initiative. If you have any further questions, please contact Dr. Linda Ashley, Interim Curriculum Director (ELA/SS) at ashleyl@franklinps.net or Ms. Laura Evans, Director of World Languages at evansl@franklinps.net.


Sincerely,
Linda Ashley, Ed.D.

*Taken from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.  - https://www.doe.mass.edu/scholarships/biliteracy/  



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