39 MHS Seniors Will Graduate with MA State Seal of Biliteracy

The following provided by Ellen Toubman, World Languages and Cultures Dept Chair, Medfield Public Schools.

Class of 2020 - Thirty Nine MHS Seniors will Graduate with Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy

On November 22, 2017, Governor Baker signed into law "An Act Relative to Language Opportunity for Our Kids," Chapter 138 of the Acts of 2017, commonly referred to as the LOOK Act. The State Seal of Biliteracy is a key element of the LOOK Act. On June 26, 2018, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted regulations that describe the criteria that school districts must use to award the State Seal of Biliteracy.

The State Seal of Biliteracy program began in Massachusetts with the graduating class of 2019. Participation in the State Seal of Biliteracy Program is voluntary for districts. Medfield began piloting the testing for the program last spring and officially signed on to award the state seal to members of the graduating class of 2020 who meet the state criteria. We see this as an important measure for promoting the study of languages and encouraging global competency and awareness in today’s world.

Significantly, the State Seal of Biliteracy provides a means to recognize high school graduates who attain high functional and academic levels of proficiency in English and a world language, meaning that those students can function in those languages in authentic, real-life situations.

We are proud to recognize the following seniors who will be graduating with the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy this year.