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North Penn committee recommends Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy process, refers policy to action
Summary
The ECI Committee approved moving a district plan to implement the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy to the May action meeting; the plan lays out multiple eligibility pathways for multilingual learners, world‑language students and bilingual students using ACTFL assessments or course grades and Keystone results.
The North Penn ECI Committee voted to send a proposed district plan for awarding the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy to the May action meeting.
Rachel Early summarized the proposal, saying the state award recognizes students who demonstrate intermediate to high proficiency in English and an additional language at graduation. Early said the district's committee developed multiple pathways so different student groups can qualify: multilingual learners (reclassification plus transcript evidence), world‑language students (course grades and Keystone literature proficiency) and bilingual students who speak languages the district does not offer (using an ACTFL assessment and Keystone literature proficiency).
"It is an award presented by a school entity like North Penn in recognition of students who have attained intermediate to high proficiency in both English and 1 more additional language upon high school graduation," Early said. The plan includes an application process, portfolio options and a communication strategy; staff said they intend to include the award on diplomas and in an awards ceremony if the board approves the plan.
The committee voted unanimously to move the Seal of Biliteracy plan to the May action meeting so the board can consider formal approval and the district can communicate the program to students and families for the coming school year.
