Averill Park teachers outline world language curriculum update, push Seal of Biliteracy awareness

Averill Park, N.Y. — World language teachers from Algonquin Middle School and Averill Park High School presented a curriculum renewal update to the Board of Education on May 6, describing alignment with New York State’s revised world language standards and efforts to increase awareness of the Seal of Biliteracy.

The presentation outlined that the district has adopted comprehensible-input programs (including SOMOS) in Spanish and French for grades 7–12, revised pacing for checkpoint A (grade 8) and is preparing for checkpoint B at the high-school level in two years. “Through SOMOS, language is acquired. It’s through comprehensible input,” one presenter said, describing lessons built around stories, music and performances rather than translation drills.

The teachers said the curriculum work began with a multi-phase renewal process that brought teams together vertically across grade levels to review gaps and align units to the new state themes and anchor standards (communication and culture). They reported tangible classroom changes, including a new “all about me” unit for checkpoint A, a differentiated digital graphic novel for eighth grade, and a catalog of roughly 85 Spanish readers spanning novice to advanced levels.

The presentation also highlighted the district’s Seal of Biliteracy program, implemented locally in February 2018. Teachers said 32 students have earned the seal to date: 15 in French, 15 in Spanish, one student in both French and Spanish, and one student who earned the seal in German last year. Staff described how students can earn the seal through combinations of English and language assessments, course grades and presentations; in some cases, district staff arrange national language exams when home-language instruction is not available locally.

Teachers asked the board to continue supporting curriculum alignment to New York State checkpoint exams and to increase outreach so middle-school students and families know the seal is available for languages taught at home as well as languages taught in district classrooms. They said the district is working to “push down” awareness so students can plan for the seal well before senior year.

Board members praised the team’s volunteer work on renewal, cited student interest in voluntary in-class reading, and asked clarifying questions about assessments. No formal board action was taken; the presentation was informational.

Teachers and administrators said the renewal is ongoing and that further implementation and assessment adjustments will continue during the 2025–26 school year.