Seal of Biliteracy

Mission Statement

The mission of Fall River Public School’s Seal of Biliteracy Award is to empower students to celebrate their multilingual and multiliterate achievements. By promoting the awareness of linguistic diversity within the community from the onset of education in kindergarten, all students will be exposed to a multilingual and multiliterate educational experience. The implementation of the Seal of Biliteracy will advance the Fall River's commitment that every student graduates with the knowledge and skills to participate successfully in a diverse 21st century society. 

The Fall River Seal of Biliteracy will encourage students to: 

  • Study and master languages
  • Promote the value of language diversity
  • Graduate college and career ready students with 21st century language and biliteracy skills
  • Build a diverse, accepting community that honors multilingual and multiliteracy scholars
  • Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market, post-secondary education, and the global society

Purpose

The Seal of Biliteracy encourages students to pursue biliteracy, honors the skills our students attain, and can be evidence of skills that are attractive to future employers and college admissions offices.

What is the Seal of Biliteracy?

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district, or county office of education in recognition of any student who demonstrates proficiency in English and any other language, whether they speak the non-English language at home or learned it at school or in the community. B.M.C. Durfee High School students who earn the Seal of Biliteracy will receive a distinction on their high school diploma and transcript upon graduation. Awarded students will be given honors cords at a dedicated recognition ceremony to be won on graduation day.

Criteria

In order to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students at the high school level must meet the following minimum requirements:

1.  Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by satisfying ONE of the following:

  • Meet competency determination for MCAS-ELA (Earn a score of 240 or higher on the HS Legacy ELA MCAS or earn a score of 472 or higher on HS Next-Gen MCAS) or the modified competency determination as directed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 
  • Meet competency determination for MCAS-ELA (Earn a score of 220 or higher on the HS Legacy ELA MCAS or earn a score of 455 or higher on HS Next-Gen MCAS) or the modified competency determination as directed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and earn a 4.2 overall score and a 3.9 on literacy on ACCESS
  • Meet competency determination for MCAS-ELA (Earn a score of 220 or higher on the HS Legacy ELA MCAS or earn a score of 455 or higher on HS Next-Gen MCAS) or the modified competency determination as directed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education  and score a 4 or higher on AP Language or AP Literature

2.   Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a foreign language through ONE of the following:

  • Attain a minimum score of Intermediate- High on the Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP) assessment OR a score of 4 on the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam.
  • For languages that do not have readily available assessments, students may qualify for a portfolio option.