Bill Text: CA AB815 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
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-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 815	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 4, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Brownley
    (   Principal coauthor:   Assembly Member
  John A. Pérez   ) 
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Alejo,   Ammiano,   Carter,   Eng,
  Furutani,   Gatto,   Roger Hernández,
  Lara,   Ma,   and Williams   )


                        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.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 815, as amended, 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
 or   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
 State Department of Education   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, to affix an appropriate
insignia to the diploma or transcript of pupils who earn a State Seal
of Biliteracy, and, to the extent practicable, to develop outreach
strategies and an application process in order to ensure that pupils
know about the State Seal of Biliteracy.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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  
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,  including   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 the Advanced Placement (AP) or International
Baccalaureate examination with a score of 3 or higher.  

   (A) Passing a foreign language Advanced Placement (AP) 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) Passing a district language examination  that, at a
minimum, assesses speaking, reading, and writing  in a language
other than English at the proficient level or higher.
   (D) Passing a foreign government's approved language examination,
and receiving a receipt of a certificate of competency from the
authorizing government agency.
   (E) 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 
California English Language Development Test (CELDT)  
English language development test  . For purposes of this
paragraph, a participating school district may administer the CELDT
an additional time as necessary.
   (2) Meet the requirements of subdivision (a).
   (c) For languages in which an AP test is not available, the
Superintendent shall provide a listing of equivalent summative tests
that school districts may use in place of an AP test for purposes of
subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).
   (d) For purposes of this article, "foreign language" means a
language other than English, and includes American Sign Language.
   51462.   Under the direction of the Superintendent, the
department   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 all 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.
   (c) To the extent practicable, develop outreach strategies and an
application process in order to ensure that pupils know about the
State Seal of Biliteracy.
   51464.  It is the intent of the Legislature that no fee be charged
to a pupil pursuant to this article.
                
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