Caroline Schlegel, the new world language curriculum specialist for Frederick County Public Schools, told the Curriculum & Instruction Committee that FCPS is grounding world language instruction in proficiency-based practice and ACTFL standards.

Schlegel said the district created common, proficiency-based summative assessments for Spanish 1–4 aligned to the ACTFL 2024 performance descriptors and introduced a standardized rubric so teachers across FCPS can score consistently. She described assessments that require students to work in the three ACTFL modes — interpretive (listening/reading), interpersonal (conversation), and presentational (one-way speaking/writing) — and said rubrics will give students a transparent roadmap for moving from novice through intermediate and into advanced proficiency levels.

On enrollment, Schlegel reported Spanish remains the primary language course in FCPS and that Spanish for bilingual speakers is growing. She said American Sign Language (ASL) enrollment is steady and that elective courses such as Exploring Hispanic Cultures and AP/IB advanced language enrollments have also seen increases.

Schlegel explained the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy requirements and recent COMAR updates (approved Aug. 26). She said the seal requires intermediate-high proficiency in a language plus an English component; FCPS will accept multiple English pathways (including PSAT, SAT or ACT English scores) consistent with the state update. Schlegel said staff are collaborating with the Multilingual Education Program to create systemwide guidelines to offer equitable access to Seal of Biliteracy assessments and recognition at graduation.

On ASL testing costs, Schlegel said the previously available ASL assessment for the seal had been priced at roughly $300, creating an equity barrier, but that an approved ASL Seal of Biliteracy assessment priced at $19.90 should increase access. She noted some less-commonly-taught languages’ assessments are more expensive but most district-used assessments fall in the roughly $20 range. Schlegel and board members agreed funding and equitable access to assessments will require future work and possible budget or MSDE advocacy.

Board members asked about expanding early language exposure and adding courses at more schools. Schlegel said adding a course is typically student-demand driven; if enough students request a course on registration forms, the district will try to staff it. Staff also said they are exploring options outside the regular elementary day (summer camps, after-school) and considering middle-school schedule changes that could allow more systematic Grade 6 starts for world language.

No policy votes were taken during the presentation; staff said many of the changes are implementation steps (rubrics, assessments, guidance) and that larger scheduling or staffing changes would return to the board for further discussion.