Seal of Biliteracy Program

RHS announces the Seal of Biliteracy Program

Rockland Public Schools

October 13, 2021

Dear RPS Students & Families,

We are pleased to inform you of Rockland’s participation in the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy for the 2021-2022 School Year. The Seal of Biliteracy is for any Rockland High School 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.  We share this information with students and families across the entire district so that elementary and middle school-aged children are aware of this new opportunity at RHS.

The State Seal of Biliteracy aims to:

(a) Encourage students to study and master languages;

(b) Certify attainment of biliteracy skills;

(c) Recognize the value of language diversity;

(d) Provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills;

(e) Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for the attainment of high-level skills in languages;

(f) Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society; and

(g) Strengthen intergroup communication and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community.*

 

In order to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students must:

(a) Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by satisfying one of the following:

  1. Earn a score of 240 or higher on the Grade 10 Legacy ELA MCAS (472 on Next-Gen MCAS) or

  2. Earn a score of 220 or higher on the Grade 10 Legacy ELA MCAS (455 on Next-Gen MCAS) and complete an Educational Proficiency Plan

(b) Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a foreign language through one of the following:

  1. Attaining a minimum score equivalent to Intermediate-High on a state-approved assessment or

  2. For languages that do not have readily available assessments, completing a portfolio demonstrating Intermediate-High proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and listening.

We will be administering the English Language Arts MCAS and administering CTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages in March during the school day.

We look forward to honoring the language expertise and diversity in our district through this initiative.  If you have any further questions, please contact me.

Sincerely,

 

John M. Harrison

RHS Principal