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Chester UFSD: 12 seniors qualify for Seal of Biliteracy; district schedules exams and family summer programs
Summary
Miss Garcia told the board that 12 seniors are candidates for the Seal of Biliteracy this year, with exams scheduled next week in Spanish and Russian; she also detailed staff professional development and a summer family instructional workshop tied to the district's summer reading collaboration with the Chester Public Library.
Miss Garcia, presenting a district goals update, said the district has 12 seniors who are candidates to earn the Seal of Biliteracy this year and that the district’s targeted languages for the credential are English, Spanish and Russian. “We currently have 12 students who are candidates to receive and earn the seal of biliteracy this year,” she said.
The district has ordered speaking exams in Spanish and Russian and will schedule approximately one‑hour testing sessions for candidates next week. Miss Garcia said the oral exam includes reading, listening, writing and a speaking scenario in which students must propose solutions in the target language; the district is also recruiting community panelists, particularly Spanish‑ and Russian‑speakers, to serve as evaluators.
The update noted that one Russian‑speaking candidate has family members who cannot serve as evaluators and that the district is seeking additional local panelists; Miss Garcia said a board member volunteered to serve as one panelist for Russian assessments.
Miss Garcia also summarized recent staff professional development tied to district goals, including an in‑service academy, Wilson Reading information for special education staff and a reflective portfolio workshop series described as the “CUFSD 10 year journey.” She said the district is piloting earlier mentoring partnerships for new teachers and that a family instructional academy will hold a final workshop on May 26 focused on summer reading in collaboration with the Chester Public Library; Miss Garcia has organized a book drive and plans a book swap at that workshop.
Why it matters: The Seal of Biliteracy can help graduating students demonstrate language proficiency for college and work; the district’s recruitment of community evaluators and coordination with the public library aim to expand access to language and literacy activities for families.
The board offered positive feedback on the library collaboration and on the district’s effort to expand biliteracy candidates into eleventh grade so students do not lose language practice. The board will hear further updates as assessments and culminating projects are completed in June.
