Bill Text: CA AB815 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Instructional programs: State Seal of Biliteracy.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-10-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 618, Statutes of 2011. [AB815 Detail]
Download: California-2011-AB815-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 815 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 618
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 8, 2011
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 8, 2011
PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
AMENDED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 30, 2011
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 11, 2011
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2011
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 4, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Brownley
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member John A. Pérez)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo, Ammiano, Carter, Dickinson,
Eng, Furutani, Gatto, Roger Hernández, Lara, Ma, and Williams)
(Coauthors: Senators Correa, Hancock, Lowenthal, and Vargas)
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
An act to add Article 6 (commencing with Section 51460) to Chapter
3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
relating to instructional programs, and making an appropriation
therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 815, Brownley. Instructional programs: State Seal of
Biliteracy.
Existing law sets forth various requirements for the issuance of
diplomas conferred upon a pupil as evidence of graduation from high
school. Statutory provisions establish the Golden State Seal Merit
Diploma for the purpose of recognizing pupils who have mastered the
high school curriculum.
This bill would establish the State Seal of Biliteracy to
recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of
proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more
languages in addition to English. The State Seal of Biliteracy would
be awarded by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in accordance
with specified criteria. The Superintendent would be required to
prepare and deliver to participating school districts the seal
insignia. Participating school districts would be required to
maintain records in order to identify pupils who have earned a State
Seal of Biliteracy and to affix an appropriate insignia to the
diploma or transcript of pupils who earn a State Seal of Biliteracy.
The bill would make an appropriation by authorizing the
Superintendent to use money appropriated for purposes of the Golden
State Seal Merit Diploma program to develop an Internet Web site for
electronic delivery of the seals for both the Golden State Seal Merit
Diploma and State Seal of Biliteracy programs to school districts.
Appropriation: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage excellence
for all pupils, and the Legislature wishes to publicly recognize
pupils for exemplary achievements in academic studies.
(b) The study of world languages in elementary and secondary
schools should be encouraged because it contributes to a pupil's
cognitive development and to our national economy and security.
(c) Proficiency in multiple languages is critical in enabling
California to participate effectively in a global political, social,
and economic context, and in expanding trade with other countries.
(d) The demand for employees to be fluent in more than one
language is increasing both in California and throughout the world.
(e) The benefits to employers in having staff fluent in more than
one language are clear: access to an expanded market, allowing
business owners to better serve their customers' needs, and the
sparking of new marketing ideas that better target a particular
audience and open a channel of communication with customers.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote linguistic
proficiency and cultural literacy in one or more languages in
addition to English and to provide recognition of the attainment of
those needed and important skills through the establishment of the
State Seal of Biliteracy. A State Seal of Biliteracy would be affixed
on the high school diplomas or transcripts of graduating pupils
attaining proficiency in one or more languages in addition to
English.
SEC. 2. Article 6 (commencing with Section 51460) is added to
Chapter 3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
to read:
Article 6. State Seal of Biliteracy
51460. (a) The State Seal of Biliteracy is established to
recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of
proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more
languages in addition to English. The State Seal of Biliteracy shall
be awarded by the Superintendent. School district participation in
this program is voluntary.
(b) The purposes of the State Seal of Biliteracy are as follows:
(1) To encourage pupils to study languages.
(2) To certify attainment of biliteracy.
(3) To provide employers with a method of identifying people with
language and biliteracy skills.
(4) To provide universities with a method to recognize and give
academic credit to applicants seeking admission.
(5) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills.
(6) To recognize and promote foreign language instruction in
public schools.
(7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of
diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a
community.
51461. (a) The State Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a
high level of proficiency by a graduating high school pupil in one
or more languages, in addition to English, and certifies that the
graduate meets all of the following criteria:
(1) Completion of all English language arts requirements for
graduation with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above in
those classes.
(2) Passing the California Standards Test in English language arts
administered in grade 11 at the proficient level or above.
(3) Proficiency in one or more languages other than English,
demonstrated through one of the following methods:
(A) Passing a foreign language Advanced Placement examination with
a score of 3 or higher or an International Baccalaureate examination
with a score of 4 or higher.
(B) Successful completion of a four-year high school course of
study in a foreign language, and attaining an overall grade point
average of 3.0 or above in that course of study.
(C) If no Advanced Placement examination or off-the-shelf language
test exists and the school district can certify to the
Superintendent that the test meets the rigor of a four-year high
school course of study in that foreign language, passing a school
district language examination that, at a minimum, assesses speaking,
reading, and writing in a language other than English at the
proficient level or higher. If a school district offers a language
examination in a language in which an Advanced Placement examination
or off-the-shelf language test exists, the school district language
examination shall be approved by the Superintendent for the purpose
of determining proficiency in a language other than English.
(D) Passing the SAT II foreign language examination with a score
of 600 or higher.
(b) If the primary language of a pupil in any of grades 9 to 12,
inclusive, is other than English, he or she shall do both of the
following in order to qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy:
(1) Attain the early advanced proficiency level on the English
language development test. For purposes of this paragraph, a
participating school district may administer the English language
development test an additional time as necessary.
(2) Meet the requirements of subdivision (a).
(c) For languages in which an Advanced Placement test is not
available, the Superintendent may provide a listing of equivalent
summative tests that school districts may use in place of an Advanced
Placement test for purposes of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a). A school district may provide the Superintendent
with a list of equivalent summative tests that the district uses in
place of an Advanced Placement test for purposes of subparagraph (A)
of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a). The Superintendent may use lists
received from school districts in developing his or her list of
equivalent summative tests.
(d) For purposes of this article, "foreign language" means a
language other than English, and includes American Sign Language.
51462. The Superintendent shall do both of the following:
(a) Prepare and deliver to participating school districts an
appropriate insignia to be affixed to the diploma or transcript of
the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a State Seal of
Biliteracy by the Superintendent.
(b) Provide other information it deems necessary for school
districts to successfully participate in the program.
51463. A school district that participates in the program under
this article shall do both of the following:
(a) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who
have earned a State Seal of Biliteracy.
(b) Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma or transcript of
each pupil who earns a State Seal of Biliteracy.
51464. It is the intent of the Legislature that no fee be charged
to a pupil pursuant to this article.
SEC. 3. The Superintendent of Public Instruction may use money
appropriated for purposes of the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma
program pursuant to Section 47 of Chapter 204 of the Statutes of 1996
to develop an Internet Web site for electronic delivery of the seals
for both the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma and State Seal of
Biliteracy programs as set forth in Article 5 (commencing with
Section 51450), and Article 6 (commencing with Section 51460), of
Chapter 3 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code.
The Superintendent may use these funds on a one-time basis to develop
an Internet Web site to make electronically available to school
districts the seals for the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma and State
Seal of Biliteracy programs.
