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| Public Act 098-0560 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Legislative intent.
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(a) It is the intent of the legislature to encourage | ||||
excellence for all pupils, and the legislature wishes to | ||||
publicly recognize pupils for exemplary achievements in | ||||
academic studies.
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(b) The study of languages other than English in elementary | ||||
and secondary schools should be encouraged because it | ||||
contributes to a pupil's cognitive development and to our | ||||
national economy and security.
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(c) Proficiency in multiple languages is critical in | ||||
enabling this State to participate effectively in a global | ||||
political, social, and economic
context and in expanding trade | ||||
with other countries.
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(d) The demand for employees to be fluent in more than one | ||||
language is increasing both in this State and throughout the | ||||
world.
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(e) The benefits to employers in having staff fluent in | ||||
more than one language are clear: access to an expanded market, | ||||
allowing business owners to better serve their customers' | ||||
needs, and the sparking of new marketing ideas that better | ||||
target a particular audience and open a channel of | ||||
communication with customers and businesses in other | ||
countries.
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(f) It is the intent of the legislature to promote | ||
linguistic proficiency and cultural literacy in one or more | ||
languages in addition to English and to provide recognition of | ||
the attainment of those needed and important skills through the | ||
establishment of the State Seal of Biliteracy. A State Seal of | ||
Biliteracy would be designated on the high school diplomas and | ||
transcripts of graduating public school pupils attaining | ||
proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English.
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section | ||
2-3.157 as follows: | ||
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.157 new) | ||
Sec. 2-3.157. State Seal of Biliteracy. | ||
(a) In this Section, "foreign language" means any language | ||
other than English, including all modern languages, Latin, | ||
American Sign Language, Native American languages, and native | ||
languages. | ||
(b) The State Seal of Biliteracy program is established to | ||
recognize public high school graduates who have attained a high | ||
level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to | ||
English. The State Seal of Biliteracy shall be awarded | ||
beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. School district | ||
participation in this program is voluntary. | ||
(c) 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 21st century skills. | ||
(6) To recognize the value of foreign language and | ||
native language instruction in public schools. | ||
(7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the | ||
value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and | ||
languages of a community. | ||
(d) The State Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a | ||
high
level of proficiency, sufficient for meaningful use in | ||
college and a career, by a graduating public high school pupil | ||
in one or more
languages in addition to English. | ||
(e) The State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as | ||
may be necessary to establish the criteria that pupils must | ||
achieve to earn a State Seal of Biliteracy, which may include | ||
without limitation attainment of units of credit in English | ||
language arts and languages other than English and passage of | ||
such assessments of foreign language proficiency as may be | ||
approved by the State Board of Education for this purpose. | ||
(f) The State Board of Education shall do both of the | ||
following: | ||
(1) Prepare and deliver to participating school | ||
districts an appropriate mechanism for designating the | ||
State Seal of Biliteracy on the diploma and transcript of | ||
the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a | ||
State Seal of Biliteracy by the State Board of Education. | ||
(2) Provide other information the State Board of | ||
Education deems necessary for school districts to | ||
successfully participate in the program. | ||
(g) A school district that participates in the program | ||
under this
Section shall do both of the following: | ||
(1) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify | ||
pupils who have earned a State Seal of Biliteracy. | ||
(2) Make the appropriate designation on the diploma and | ||
transcript of each pupil who earns a State Seal of | ||
Biliteracy. | ||
(h) No fee shall be charged to a pupil to receive the | ||
designation pursuant to this Section. Notwithstanding this | ||
prohibition, costs may be incurred by the pupil in | ||
demonstrating proficiency, including without limitation any | ||
assessments required under subsection (e) of this Section.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, | ||
2013.
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