Muscatine High School and district staff recognized students who earned the Iowa Seal of Biliteracy during the Board of Education meeting on June 9.

Morgan Moore, associate principal at Muscatine High School and the district Seal of Biliteracy coordinator, told the board that 35 students took Seal assessments this year and 22 students earned the seal. Moore said the program values multilingual ability and that the district offers language instruction beginning in elementary dual-language immersion and continuing through junior high and high school language offerings.

Moore identified seniors who earned the seal and who received diploma stickers and pins: Gallilea Plata, Joe McCleary, Nelia Luna, Anna Storer and Skye Foster. Moore said Foster earned the Seal of Biliteracy in two languages (Spanish and Chinese) this year. Moore also named juniors who earned the recognition, including Lisey Papi, Yadiel Rivera and Kalina Fox; Moore noted other students were unable to attend the board meeting.

Moore told the board that the 2018 state law signed by the governor authorized districts to offer the Seal of Biliteracy, and that two Iowa institutions named in the presentation offer credit for the seal. She said many colleges and universities nationwide offer credit for students who attain the seal, and that local employers value multilingual skills for global connections.

Moore thanked support staff for preparing certificates and diploma stickers, naming Doreen Gordy, Ali Meineke and Chris Meeker as staff who prepared the materials and coordinated diploma stickers.

Ending: Board members offered congratulations to the students. Moore said juniors who qualified will have stickers added to their diplomas next year.