School district initiates new Seal of Biliteracy

The Sonoma Valley Unified School District is working to implement a Seal of Biliteracy, an award given to high school seniors for demonstrating proficiency in English and one other language.  The special seal will be placed on students’ diplomas and added to their transcripts. In order to receive the seal, students must gain proficiency, measured by certain criteria established by the district and following specific guidelines created by Californians together. Along with this award comes a system of ‘pathway to biliteracy’ awards in grades kindergarten through eight.

Last year, district personnel attended a seminar about the Seal and returned to Sonoma hoping to implement the awards here. Committees made up of volunteer cabinet members, parents, teachers, administrators and board members worked together to begin the implementation process. Establishing the criteria at the high school level was identified as the top priority.

Mary Ann Spitzer, an academic coordinator with Flowery School, has taken the reins on the initiative for the district. She is thrilled that the program’s first awards will coincide with the first graduating seniors from the dual immersion program. She is quick to point out, however, that the corresponding pathways awards are not just for dual immersion students but for any student who shows proficiency in English and one other language.

While this is currently deemed a pilot project, the first Seal of Biliteracy awards will be given to seniors in June, as well as pathway awards in grades kindergarten through eight. Pilot status will enable the committee to review the program and possibly tweak the criteria for subsequent years.

A steering committee will be responsible to take action on the next steps such as hiring a Seal of Biliteracy coordinator for the high school, handling outreach to parents and the community as well as solidifying the awards – and their correlating criteria – that will be given this year at the middle and elementary school levels.

“This a fabulous initiative that our school district has chosen to support.  It is an excellent vehicle to remind our community how valuable it is to learn a second language.  Concurrently, it encourages our non-native English speaking families to continue to preserve their home language as their children gain proficiency in English.  It is a win-win situation for all,” said Spitzer.”