N.Y. Education Law § 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.