2013 New York Consolidated Laws
EDN - Education
Title 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 17 - (801 - 816) INSTRUCTION IN CERTAIN SUBJECTS
815 - State seal of biliteracy.

 
    §  815.  State seal of biliteracy. 1. (a) The state seal of biliteracy
  is established to recognize high school graduates who  have  attained  a
  high  level  of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing
  in one or more languages in addition  to  English.  The  state  seal  of
  biliteracy  shall  be  awarded  by  the  commissioner.  School  district
  participation in this program is voluntary.
    (b) 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 twenty-first century skills.
    (6) To recognize the value of foreign  language  and  native  language
  instruction  in  public schools. For the purpose of this section foreign
  language means any language other  than  English  (LOTE)  including  all
  modern   languages,  Latin,  American  Sign  Language,  Native  American
  languages and native languages.
    (7) To  strengthen  intergroup  relationships,  affirm  the  value  of
  diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community.
    2.  (a)  The  state  seal of biliteracy certifies attainment of a high
  level of proficiency by a graduating high school pupil in  one  or  more
  languages, in addition to English.
    (b)  The  board  of  regents  shall promulgate such regulations of the
  commissioner as may be necessary to establish the criteria that students
  must achieve to earn a state seal of biliteracy, which may include,  but
  is not limited to attainment of units of credit in English language arts
  and  languages  other  than  English,  passage  of  state assessments in
  English language arts and language other than English,  and  passage  of
  such  additional  assessments  of foreign language proficiency as may be
  approved by the commissioner for this purpose.
    (c) For purposes of this section, foreign language means any  language
  other  than  English  (LOTE)  including  all  modern  languages,  Latin,
  American Sign Language, Native American languages and native languages.
    3. The commissioner shall do both of the following:
    (a)  Prepare  and  deliver  to  participating  school   districts   an
  appropriate  insignia to be affixed to the diploma and transcript of the
  pupil indicating that the  pupil  has  been  awarded  a  state  seal  of
  biliteracy by the commissioner.
    (b)  Provide  other  information  he or she deems necessary for school
  districts to successfully participate in the program.
    4. A school district that  participates  in  the  program  under  this
  section shall do both of the following:
    (a)  Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who have
  earned a state seal of biliteracy.
    (b) Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma  and  transcript  of
  each pupil who earns a state seal of biliteracy.
    5. No fee shall be charged to a pupil pursuant to this section.