HB3237 EnrolledLRB101 07410 AXK 52450 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  



 
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended  by changing Section 
52-3.159 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.159)
7    Sec. 2-3.159. State Seal of Biliteracy.
8    (a) In this Section, "foreign language" means any language 
9other  than  English, including  all modern   languages,  Latin,  
10American  Sign  Language,  Native  American languages, and native 
11languages.
12    (b)  The State Seal  of  Biliteracy program is  established  to  
13recognize public high school graduates who have attained a high 
14level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to 
15English. The State Seal of Biliteracy  shall  be  awarded  
16beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. School district 
17participation in this program is voluntary.
18    (c) The purposes of the State Seal of Biliteracy are as 
19follows:
20        (1) To encourage pupils to study languages.
21        (2) To certify attainment of biliteracy.
22        (3) To provide employers with a  method  of  identifying  
23    people  with language and biliteracy skills.
 
 
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1        (4)  To  provide  universities  with an additional method 
2    to recognize applicants seeking admission.
3        (5) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills.
4        (6) To recognize the value of foreign  language  and  
5    native  language instruction  in public schools.
6        (7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the 
7    value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and 
8    languages of a community.
9    (d)  The State Seal of Biliteracy certifies  attainment  of  a  
10high
level  of  proficiency, sufficient for meaningful use in 
11college and a career,  by a graduating public high school pupil 
12in one or more
languages in addition to English.
13    (e) The State Board of Education shall  adopt such rules as 
14may be necessary to establish the criteria that pupils must  
15achieve to earn a State Seal of Biliteracy, which may include 
16without limitation attainment of units of credit in English 
17language arts and languages other  than  English and passage of 
18such assessments of foreign language proficiency  as  may  be 
19approved by the State Board of Education for this purpose. 
20These rules shall ensure that the criteria that pupils must 
21achieve to earn a State Seal of Biliteracy meet the course 
22credit criteria established under subsection (i) of this 
23Section.
24    (e-5) To demonstrate sufficient English language 
25proficiency for eligibility to receive a State Seal of 
26Biliteracy under this Section, the State Board of Education 
 
 
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1shall allow a pupil to provide his or her school district with 
2evidence of completion of any of the following, in accordance 
3with guidelines for proficiency adopted by the State Board: 
4        (1) An AP (Advanced Placement) English Language and 
5    Composition Exam.
6        (2) An English language arts dual credit course.
7        (3) Transitional coursework in English language arts 
8    articulated in partnership with a public community college 
9    as an ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) College and Career 
10    Readiness Indicator. 
11    (f)  The State Board of Education shall do both of the 
12following:
13        (1) Prepare and deliver to participating school 
14    districts an appropriate  mechanism for designating the 
15    State Seal of Biliteracy on the diploma and transcript of 
16    the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a 
17    State Seal of Biliteracy by the State Board of Education.
18        (2) Provide other information the State Board of 
19    Education  deems  necessary  for  school districts to 
20    successfully participate in the program.
21    (g)  A  school  district  that  participates  in the program 
22under this
 Section shall do both of the following:
23        (1) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify 
24    pupils who have earned a State Seal of Biliteracy.
25        (2)  Make  the  appropriate designation on the diploma and 
26    transcript of each pupil who earns a State Seal of 
 
 
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1    Biliteracy.
2    (h)  No fee shall be charged to a pupil to receive the 
3designation pursuant to this Section. Notwithstanding this 
4prohibition, costs may be incurred by the pupil in 
5demonstrating proficiency, including without limitation any 
6assessments required under subsection (e) of this Section.

7    (i) For admissions purposes, each public university in this 
8State shall accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent 
9to 2 years of foreign language coursework taken during high 
10school if a student's high school transcript indicates that he 
11or she will be receiving or has received the State Seal of 
12Biliteracy. 
13    (j) Each public community college and public university in 
14this State shall establish criteria to translate a State Seal 
15of Biliteracy into course credit based on foreign language 
16course equivalencies identified by the community college's or 
17university's faculty and staff and, upon request from an 
18enrolled student, the community college or university shall 
19award foreign language course credit to a student who has 
20received a State Seal of Biliteracy. Students enrolled in a 
21public community college or public university who have received 
22a State Seal of Biliteracy must request course credit for their 
23seal within 3 academic years after graduating from high school.
24(Source: P.A. 98-560, eff. 8-27-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 
2599-600, eff. 1-1-17.)
 
 
26    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
 
 
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1becoming law.