Biliteracy to Come to Burlingame

“Biliteracy” was the buzzword of the day at a recent workshop held at the San Mateo County Office of Education. Dr. Laurie Olson, a noted expert on issues regarding English language learners and a board member of Californians Togethera statewide coalition of parents, teachers, education advocates and civil rights groups committed to securing equal access to quality education for all children-- was the featured speaker. About 70 school district personnel, school board members, site administrators, teachers and parents from around the Bay Area attended the regional workshop to learn about the Seal of Biliteracy program.

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, school district or county office of education to students in recognition of their attaining proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. Elementary and middle schools, as well as elementary school districts, can give “Pathway Awards” for pre-K to eighth-graders that will set them on the road to achieving the Seal of Biliteracy in high school.

In 2007, the California state legislature passed AB 280. The bill would have established a state Seal of Biliteracy, but then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill. Since then, Californians Together has promoted the Seal of Biliteracy as a program that districts, schools and county offices of education can award. Currently 33 school districts in California have implemented the award program. Thus far in San Mateo County, only the Redwood City School District has established the program and offers the Pathway award.

Last year, Hoover School was the first school in the Redwood City School District to offer the Pathway award. The school recognized 25 third- and fourth-graders who were proficient in both English and Spanish as evidenced by their performance on The California Standards Tests in English and Spanish, with the Pathway Seal of Biliteracy. The school held a special celebration, and each student received a small trophy.

“It was a celebration of the power of biliteracy,” said Principal Amanda Rothengast. “At our school, we want to promote and celebrate bilingualism.”

Hoover School in Redwood City was also honored for its participation in the Seal of Biliteracy program in December at the annual Accountability Leadership Institute for English Learner and Immigrant Students, hosted by the California Department of Education (CDE). In a press release, then-Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said,  “Preparing all students with 21^st century language and communication skills is critical for being college and career ready…I encourage all students to become excellent communicators by gaining proficiency in English and learning  another world language.”

 The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) is now in the process of developing a plan and a timeline for implementing a Seal of Biliteracy that would be awarded by the County Office. The first step will be establishing criteria for the award.

“Administrators and teachers at the workshop were excited about the program,” said Denise Giacomini, Coordinator of English Learner programs at SMCOE. “The award shows the importance of learning languages. The hope is that businesses and college admissions officers will see the value of bilingualism, and the value of this seal, too.”