Senate Study Bill 3092 - Introduced SENATE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON QUIRMBACH) A BILL FOR An Act establishing a state seal of biliteracy program to be 1 administered by the department of education. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5960XC (4) 86 kh/rj

S.F. _____ Section 1. NEW SECTION . 256.25 State seal of biliteracy. 1 1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context 2 otherwise requires: 3 a. “Foreign language” means any language other than English, 4 including but not limited to modern languages, Latin, American 5 sign language, and Native American and other native languages. 6 b. “Seal” means the state seal of biliteracy created under 7 this section. 8 2. Seal of biliteracy program established. A state seal 9 of biliteracy program is established in the department to be 10 administered by the department. 11 a. The program shall be established to achieve the following 12 purposes: 13 (1) To encourage students to study languages. 14 (2) To certify a student’s attainment of biliteracy. 15 (3) To provide employers with a method of identifying 16 individuals with language and biliteracy skills. 17 (4) To provide postsecondary educational institutions with 18 an additional method to recognize applicants for admission. 19 (5) To complement the twenty-first century learning skills 20 and knowledge identified in accordance with section 256.7, 21 subsection 26. 22 (6) To recognize the value of foreign language and native 23 language instruction in this state’s schools. 24 (7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the 25 value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and 26 languages of a community. 27 b. The department shall do all of the following: 28 (1) Establish the criteria for earning a seal of biliteracy, 29 including but not limited to requiring a student to demonstrate 30 proficiency by meeting local and state high school graduation 31 requirements in English, including passing scores on statewide 32 assessments and demonstrating proficiency in a foreign 33 language. 34 (2) Identify approved assessments of English and foreign 35 -1- LSB 5960XC (4) 86 kh/rj 1/ 4

S.F. _____ languages and the grades and scores necessary to demonstrate a 1 student’s high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and 2 writing in English and a foreign language. 3 (3) Prepare and deliver to participating school districts, 4 attendance centers, and accredited nonpublic schools a seal of 5 biliteracy for each qualified student and an appropriate seal 6 which may be affixed to a qualified student’s transcript by the 7 participating school district, attendance center, or accredited 8 nonpublic school. 9 (4) Provide to a participating school district, attendance 10 center, and accredited nonpublic school any other information 11 which the department determines is necessary for successful 12 participation in the program. 13 3. Voluntary participation —— participation requirements. 14 a. Participation in the program by a school district, 15 attendance center, or accredited nonpublic school shall be 16 voluntary. 17 b. A participating school district, attendance center, or 18 accredited nonpublic school shall do all of the following: 19 (1) Maintain appropriate records to identify students who 20 have earned a seal of biliteracy. 21 (2) Award to a qualified student the seal of biliteracy 22 issued by the department which shall be affixed to the 23 transcript of the qualified student. 24 4. Demonstration of proficiency —— fees. In order to be 25 awarded a seal of biliteracy, a student shall demonstrate 26 the attainment of a high level of proficiency, sufficient 27 for meaningful use in postsecondary education and career 28 opportunities of one or more foreign languages. A student 29 shall not be charged a fee to receive a seal of biliteracy; 30 however, a student may be required to pay a fee to demonstrate 31 proficiency in a language, including the actual cost of a 32 standardized test to determine the level of the student’s 33 proficiency. 34 EXPLANATION 35 -2- LSB 5960XC (4) 86 kh/rj 2/ 4

S.F. _____ The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 This bill establishes a state seal of biliteracy program to 3 be administered by the department of education. 4 CERTIFICATE. The state seal of biliteracy is established to 5 encourage students to study languages, to certify a student’s 6 attainment of biliteracy and recognize the value of such 7 attainment, to provide employers with a method of identifying 8 individuals with such skills, to complement the 21st century 9 skills and knowledge identified by the department, to provide 10 colleges and universities with an additional method to 11 recognize applicants for admission, and to honor the multiple 12 cultures and languages of a community. 13 The department must establish criteria for earning a seal 14 of biliteracy; identify approved assessments and measures 15 necessary to demonstrate a student’s high level of proficiency 16 in speaking, reading, and writing in English and a foreign 17 language; and prepare and deliver to participating school 18 districts, attendance centers, and accredited nonpublic schools 19 a seal of biliteracy for each qualified student, to be affixed 20 by the school district or school on the qualified student’s 21 transcript, and providing any other information which the 22 department determines is necessary for successful participation 23 in the program. 24 Participation in the program is voluntary, but a 25 participating school district, attendance center, or accredited 26 nonpublic school must maintain appropriate records to identify 27 students who have earned a seal and must affix the seal on the 28 transcript of each student who earns a seal. 29 A student shall not be charged a fee to receive a seal; 30 however, a student may be required to pay a fee to demonstrate 31 proficiency in a language, including the actual cost of 32 a standardized test to determine the student’s level of 33 proficiency. 34 The bill defines “foreign language” to mean any language 35 -3- LSB 5960XC (4) 86 kh/rj 3/ 4

S.F. _____ other than English, including but not limited to modern 1 languages, Latin, American sign language, and Native American 2 and other native languages. 3 -4- LSB 5960XC (4) 86 kh/rj 4/ 4