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Public Act 098-0560 |
SB1221 Enrolled | LRB098 07343 NHT 37406 b |
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Legislative intent.
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(a) It is the intent of the legislature to encourage |
excellence for all pupils, and the legislature wishes to |
publicly recognize pupils for exemplary achievements in |
academic studies.
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(b) The study of languages other than English in elementary |
and secondary schools should be encouraged because it |
contributes to a pupil's cognitive development and to our |
national economy and security.
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(c) Proficiency in multiple languages is critical in |
enabling this State to participate effectively in a global |
political, social, and economic
context and in expanding trade |
with other countries.
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(d) The demand for employees to be fluent in more than one |
language is increasing both in this State and throughout the |
world.
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(e) The benefits to employers in having staff fluent in |
more than one language are clear: access to an expanded market, |
allowing business owners to better serve their customers' |
needs, and the sparking of new marketing ideas that better |
target a particular audience and open a channel of |
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communication with customers and businesses in other |
countries.
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(f) It is the intent of the legislature to promote |
linguistic proficiency and cultural literacy in one or more |
languages in addition to English and to provide recognition of |
the attainment of those needed and important skills through the |
establishment of the State Seal of Biliteracy. A State Seal of |
Biliteracy would be designated on the high school diplomas and |
transcripts of graduating public school pupils attaining |
proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English.
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section |
2-3.157 as follows: |
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.157 new) |
Sec. 2-3.157. State Seal of Biliteracy. |
(a) In this Section, "foreign language" means any language |
other than English, including all modern languages, Latin, |
American Sign Language, Native American languages, and native |
languages. |
(b) The State Seal of Biliteracy program is established to |
recognize public high school graduates who have attained a high |
level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to |
English. The State Seal of Biliteracy shall be awarded |
beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. School district |
participation in this program is voluntary. |
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(c) The purposes of the State Seal of Biliteracy are as |
follows: |
(1) To encourage pupils to study languages. |
(2) To certify attainment of biliteracy. |
(3) To provide employers with a method of identifying |
people with language and biliteracy skills. |
(4) To provide universities with an additional method |
to recognize applicants seeking admission. |
(5) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills. |
(6) To recognize the value of foreign language and |
native language instruction in public schools. |
(7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the |
value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and |
languages of a community. |
(d) The State Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a |
high
level of proficiency, sufficient for meaningful use in |
college and a career, by a graduating public high school pupil |
in one or more
languages in addition to English. |
(e) The State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as |
may be necessary to establish the criteria that pupils must |
achieve to earn a State Seal of Biliteracy, which may include |
without limitation attainment of units of credit in English |
language arts and languages other than English and passage of |
such assessments of foreign language proficiency as may be |
approved by the State Board of Education for this purpose. |
(f) The State Board of Education shall do both of the |
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following: |
(1) Prepare and deliver to participating school |
districts an appropriate mechanism for designating the |
State Seal of Biliteracy on the diploma and transcript of |
the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a |
State Seal of Biliteracy by the State Board of Education. |
(2) Provide other information the State Board of |
Education deems necessary for school districts to |
successfully participate in the program. |
(g) A school district that participates in the program |
under this
Section shall do both of the following: |
(1) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify |
pupils who have earned a State Seal of Biliteracy. |
(2) Make the appropriate designation on the diploma and |
transcript of each pupil who earns a State Seal of |
Biliteracy. |
(h) No fee shall be charged to a pupil to receive the |
designation pursuant to this Section. Notwithstanding this |
prohibition, costs may be incurred by the pupil in |
demonstrating proficiency, including without limitation any |
assessments required under subsection (e) of this Section.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, |
2013.
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