District Graduates Earn Seal of Biliteracy

Madison High graduate Chris Lopez
shows his diploma displaying the
Seal of Biliteracy. Pictured with
Principal Richard Nash.

More than 450 graduating seniors in the Class of 2012 were recognized for attaining mastery in two or more languages with the distinguished Seal of Biliteracy.

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award granted by the district to high school seniors upon graduation to certify they have mastered two or more languages. Adopted by the Board of Trustees in May 2011, the 2012 graduates are the first group to receive the honor. The Seal recognizes that “in addition to being academically prepared and fully proficient in English, all students benefit from being proficient in another language.”

The accomplishment is noted on the student’s transcripts and the student’s diploma is affixed with a gold seal embossed with the Seal insignia.

The Seal of Biliteracy was established to encourage students to maintain an extended sequence of language study with the hope that it leads to high levels of proficiency in two or more languages. In addition, it serves as a way for prospective employers and universities to quickly identify students with biliteracy skills.

Identifying eligible students for the Seal of Biliteracy was a collaborative effort that included the Office of Language, administrators, school counselors, and world language teachers who identified students and assisted them in completing the application.

For more information on the Seal of Biliteracy, please contact the Office of Language at 619-725-7264.