NORTHFIELD — Hoping to encourage higher levels of foreign language study, the Pioneer Valley Regional School District is adopting a seal of biliteracy.
The seal of biliteracy is part of a national pilot project that recognizes graduates who speak, listen, read and write proficiently in another language in addition to English with a seal on their high school diploma.
According to Principal Jean Bacon, Pioneer and Pittsfield Public Schools are the first two school districts in western Massachusetts to pilot the program, joining school districts in Andover, Arlington, Boston, Falmouth, Framingham, Melrose, Wilmington and Winchester in the eastern part of the state. Both will feature the seal on 2017 diplomas.
Earning a seal of biliteracy provides evidence to universities and businesses that graduates have attained bilingualism and biliteracy, valuable skills in the global economy, Bacon said.
“This is really a critical piece of students’ education in the 21st century, to be literate in a second language,” she said. “We’re really trying to be forward-looking and think about the skills that are going to make our kids really successful in their lives. Our world is changing, our country is changing, and we really want the kids to take advantage of every opportunity that’s before them.”
The idea, Bacon said, came from Emily Beeman, head teacher in the world languages department, who recognized the program as being a national and regional trend.
“We’re always trying to encourage intercultural programs, so having the biliteracy seal will help students understand that speaking another language is an important skill,” Beeman said.
Currently, Pioneer offers French and Spanish classes in levels one through five. Bacon said students are pushing for more language study, so the school is also starting an online learning program through which students can take Chinese courses. Bacon expects the class to be available next semester.
To earn a seal of biliteracy, students would need to take an assessment involving reading, writing, speaking and listening.
“They could take it regardless of if they just finished Spanish 3 or Spanish 5, and it’s not required,” Bacon said. “They need to show proficiency in English and another language. Depending on their proficiency, they’ll get a different seal on their diploma.”
Students can receive a biliteracy attainment award for intermediate-low proficiency, a silver seal of biliteracy for intermediate-mid proficiency, a gold seal of biliteracy for intermediate-high proficiency and a platinum seal of biliteracy for advanced-low proficiency, according to the Seal of Biliteracy website.
The first seal of biliteracy awards were presented in the spring of 2016. Since the program was piloted last year, the seal has been approved in 24 states, according to the website.
http://sealofbiliteracy.org/
Bacon said students incur no cost to participate in the program, though the district pays a minimal cost to purchase the assessments. She estimates about 10 percent of this year’s graduating class will participate, or five or six students.