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Lowell High students receive 104 Seals of Biliteracy as program expands
Summary
Lowell High’s Seal of Biliteracy program has grown from 30 initial awards to 104 this year across roughly 20 languages, driven by DESE grant support and district coordination; coordinators said the credential appears on students' transcripts and supports college and workforce opportunity.
Lowell High School staff and students briefed the School Committee on May 20 on the growth of the Seal of Biliteracy program, which recognizes proficiency in English and a student’s heritage or additional language.
Shirley Bladtom, the Seal of Biliteracy coordinator and a Latin teacher at Lowell High, told the committee the program began after a DESE grant and has expanded rapidly: "We applied for the grant, we received it, and we were able to implement the seal of biliteracy," Bladtom said, noting the program has grown from about 30 initial awardees to 104 this year with representation in roughly 20 languages.
Bladtom explained testing is rigorous — she described exam sessions that may last four to six hours, include multiple writing prompts and extemporaneous speaking tasks — and said 14 students earned the seal "with distinction" this year. Students who spoke described the credential’s personal and professional value: Bernardo Cordero said bilingual skills can help with employment prospects, and Journey Sortiz described using language skills in health‑care and community settings.
The superintendent noted the seal now appears on transcripts under new state requirements and highlighted the district’s coordination with the state Office of Multilingual Education and national exam providers. The program’s expansion was presented as both an equity and workforce development tool, helping multilingual students document and use language proficiency for college and careers.
The committee was invited to an award ceremony on May 29 where the district will honor this year’s recipients.
