Huntsville City Schools board hears plan to add Alabama Seal of Biliteracy to student transcripts
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Summary
District staff proposed adopting the Alabama Seal of Biliteracy, outlined eligibility requirements, timeline and estimated per-student costs; plan requires state approval before local implementation.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Huntsville City Schools staff presented a plan April 8 for the district to offer the Alabama Seal of Biliteracy on student transcripts, outlining eligibility, testing options and a timeline that would begin local promotion after state approval.
The proposal, led by Tamara Robbins, ESOL coordinator for Huntsville City Schools, said the Alabama Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language. "The Alabama Seal of Biliteracy is based on solid research highlighting the advantages of mastering two or more languages," a member of the district's biliteracy team said during the presentation.
Under the district plan presented to the board, four requirements must be met for a student to receive the seal: successful completion of high school graduation requirements; proof of English proficiency under Alabama state requirements; demonstrated proficiency in a world language (including American Sign Language); and submission of an application and application fee. Staff listed several accepted assessments for demonstrating language proficiency, including the ACT for English and Advanced Placement and STAMP tests for world languages.
If the board approves the local plan, staff will submit it to the Alabama State Department of Education for final approval. District presenters said promotion of the program would begin in May and continue through the summer into the next school year, with the first local cohort of students to be recognized the following February. Staff estimated an administrative cost of about $60 per student and proposed stipends of $500 each for two mentor teachers to handle documentation and test administration.
Board members asked whether other districts already use the state seal; presenters said Madison City Schools and Vestavia Hills do. Staff did not specify the amount of the application fee or total expected number of participants for the first year.
The board did not take a formal vote on the seal plan during the meeting; presenters asked for questions and indicated they would submit the approved plan to the state once the board acted.
