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Students urge Wicomico board to allow Seal of Biliteracy medals at graduation
Summary
A student representing dozens of peers told the board she collected more than 1,200 petition signatures asking the district to allow graduating students to wear Seal of Biliteracy medals at commencement; the board took the comment under advisement and did not act.
Elizabeth Pena, a student and representative of multilingual students in the district, urged the Wicomico County Board of Education to allow graduating students to wear the Seal of Biliteracy medal during commencement ceremonies.
"Wicomico County is the only county that does not allow students to wear the silver medal during graduation," Pena told the board, saying that she launched a petition that has "1,000, 154 signatures by the community students and parents" and that she collected 121 signatures in person at local schools. Pena said she and other students see the medal as recognition for work learning a second language and asked the board to permit the medal at graduation to "show that we have worked hard" and to affirm the county's diversity.
Chair Malone and the superintendent's office acknowledged the public comment and said the board takes remarks under advisement. No vote or policy decision on the Seal of Biliteracy was taken at the meeting.
Provenance and evidence
- Topic introduction excerpt: introduction of Elizabeth Pena as public commenter on Seal of Biliteracy (transcript segment beginning ~412.26s). - Topic finish excerpt: Pena closing: "So we really would appreciate as students if we can wear our medals during graduation so we can show that we have worked hard... Thank you so much." (transcript segment ending ~521.735s).
