Bill Text: HI SB900 | 2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Department of Education; State Seal of Biliteracy; Appropriation ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-18 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB900 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2015-SB900-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
900 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that biliteracy is a valuable skill that Hawaii students should be encouraged to acquire. The study of world languages in elementary and secondary schools contributes to a student's cognitive development and to our national economy and security. A workforce proficient in multiple languages is critical to Hawaii's effective global participation politically, socially, and economically. Multilingualism is also important in addressing the needs of Hawaii's diverse citizenry and visitor population. The demand for employees to be fluent in more than one language is increasing in Hawaii and throughout the world. Employers benefit from staff who are fluent in more than one language because the ease of communication creates access to an expanded market, allows business owners to better serve their customers' needs, and sparks new marketing ideas that better target particular audiences. A multilingual workforce at the government level ensures fair and equal access to state services for all, as mandated by federal and state law.
The legislature further finds that recognizing students' linguistic proficiency upon graduation from high school with a state seal of biliteracy will encourage students to develop and maintain language skills. Since 2011, eight states have approved state seals of biliteracy and thirteen others are considering them. The seal would be awarded in recognition of a demonstrated level of proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English and one or more world languages including olelo Hawaii, other indigenous languages, and American sign language.
The seal would motivate students to strive for language proficiency and demonstrate the department of education's commitment to language proficiency among students. It would also be a motivator for English language learners to maintain proficiency in their home language while developing proficiency in English. By emphasizing the value of biliteracy, English language learners would not only be recognized for their efforts, but could also share the wealth of world language resources they bring from personal experience. The seal would not only serve as recognition of personal achievement, but as a uniform credential for all public high school graduates, enabling them to market their language skills.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a state seal of biliteracy to be affixed to certificates of recognition awarded to graduating students who attain proficiency in English and at least one other language.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- State seal of biliteracy. (a) There shall be established a Hawaii state seal of biliteracy program to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English and one or more other languages, including American Sign Language.
(b) The state seal of biliteracy shall be awarded by the superintendent; provided that individual school participation in the program shall be voluntary.
(c) The purposes of the state seal of biliteracy are to:
(1) Encourage students to study languages;
(2) Certify attainment of a designated level of biliteracy;
(3) Provide employers with a method for identifying people with biliteracy skills;
(4) Provide universities with a method for recognizing and awarding academic credit to applicants seeking admission;
(5) Prepare students with twenty-first century skills;
(6) Recognize and promote world language instruction in public schools;
(7) Protect and support the revitalization of olelo Hawaii, the indigenous language of Hawaii;
(8) Recognize the importance of world language resources that immigrant English language learner students bring to department of education schools;
(9) Recognize and promote the continual development of the first languages of immigrant students as a means of achieving biliteracy; and
(10) Strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community.
(d) The state seal of biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school student in one or more languages in addition to English, and certifies that the graduate has achieved the following:
(1) Passing grades in all English/language arts courses required for high school graduation;
(2) Demonstrated a high level of proficiency in one or more languages other than English by:
(A) Earning a score of three or higher on a foreign language advanced placement examination;
(B) Earning a score of four or higher on a foreign language international baccalaureate examination;
(C) Earning a passing score on a nationally recognized foreign language assessment comparable to the foreign language advanced placement or international baccalaureate examinations which includes assessment of speaking, listening, reading, and writing;
(D) Demonstrating foreign language proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, as certified by the student's high school to the superintendent; or
(E) Demonstrating first language proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, in a language other than English as certified by the student's high school to the superintendent.
(e) The superintendent shall:
(1) Provide participating schools a template for a statewide certificate of recognition of biliteracy to which the state seal of biliteracy shall be affixed;
(2) Provide an insignia to serve as the state seal of biliteracy to be affixed to the certificate; and
(3) Provide participating schools with any additional information the superintendent deems necessary for successful participation in the program.
(f) Any high school that participates in the state seal of biliteracy program shall:
(1) Maintain records necessary to identify students eligible to receive a state seal of biliteracy; and
(2) Award a certificate of recognition and include a record of the certificate upon the transcript of each student who earns a state seal of biliteracy.
(g) No fee shall be charged to any student pursuant to this section."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to establish and award the Hawaii state seal of biliteracy.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.
Report Title:
Department of Education; State Seal of Biliteracy; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the state seal of biliteracy program and appropriates funds for the implementation of the program. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
