Biliteracy Program Participation & Attainment Recognitions

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2024-2025

Upon passing Prop 58 (which allows for the expansion of multilingual programs) the Global California 2030 Initiative sets the goal of a multilingual California by 2030, and beyond.

State goals include:

• 2030: Half of all PK-12 students participate in programs leading to proficiency in two or more languages.
• 2040: 3 out of 4 students earn a State Seal of Biliteracy

Global California 2030

Biliteracy Recognitions Purpose

• Recognize student growth and/or proficiency in one or more languages, in addition to English
• Encourage students to connect with and preserve their home language & culture
• Strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures, histories, and languages of our community
• Raise awareness of the Seal of Biliteracy among Elementary & Middle School communities in order to ensure students are prepared to earn the Seal of Biliteracy upon High School graduation

Biliteracy Attainment Recognition

• Proficiency-based
• Awarded to 8th grade students enrolled in eligible programs (World Language, Dual Language Immersion & Biliteracy Programs) who meet proficiency requirements
• NOTE: starting in Fall 2025, students must be enrolled the full school year

Biliteracy Program Participation Recognition

• Not proficiency-based
• Awarded to all 5th grade students currently enrolled (full school year) in eligible programs
• Awarded to 8th grade students currently enrolled (full school year) in eligible programs who do not meet Biliteracy Attainment proficiency requirements

Biliteracy Recognitions Overview

What is it?

• Biliteracy Attainment recognition available to 8th grade students at our pilot sites that are currently enrolled (full school year) in SFUSD programs leading to biliteracy
• World Language
• Dual Language Immersion
• Biliteracy

How do students earn the award?

• Students enrolled (full year during current school year) in a qualifying program who meet proficiency requirements in English & a Language other than English (LOTE) will be awarded a biliteracy attainment certificate & ribbon at 8th grade graduation

Biliteracy Attainment Recognition

(8th Grade)

Students must satisfy ONE of the following:

• Current full-year enrollment in one or more eligible ELA courses with an average GPA of 3.0 or higher in those courses
• Achieve grade-level proficiency “standards met” on the CAASPP ELA in grade 7 or 8
• Score Level 3 or 4 overall (minimum score of Level 3 on both Oral & Written Language Composite Skills) on ELPAC in any grade 6-8
• Score Level 3 overall on alternate ELPAC in any grade 6-8

Biliteracy Attainment: English Requirement

Students must satisfy ONE of the following:

• Current full-year enrollment in one or more eligible WL or Immersion courses with an average GPA of 3.0 or higher in those courses
• Spanish only:
• Score At/Above Benchmark (40th percentile) on the STAR Spanish Reading in grade 7 or 8 PLUS writing assessment TBD
• Score 744 or above in 7th grade or 848 or above in 8th grade on the California Spanish Assessment

Biliteracy Attainment: World Language Requirement

What is it?

• Biliteracy Program Participation recognition available to all 5th & 8th grade students currently enrolled in SFUSD programs leading to biliteracy
• World Language
• Dual Language Immersion
• Biliteracy
• Entry point on path to biliteracy/multiliteracy; not based on student proficiency

How do students earn the award? (NOTE: for 24-25, the full school year requirement is exempted)

• All 5th graders enrolled in a qualifying program (full year during current school year) will be awarded a Biliteracy Program Participation certificate at 5th grade promotion.
• All 8th graders enrolled in a qualifying program (full year during current school year) who do not meet Biliteracy Attainment award proficiency requirements will be awarded a Biliteracy Program Participation certificate at 8th grade graduation.

Biliteracy Program Participation Recognition

(5th & 8th Grade)

English Requirement

• Current full-year enrollment in a course in which the student develops reading, writing, listening & speaking proficiency in English.

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World Language Requirement

• Current full-year enrollment in a course in which the student develops reading, writing, listening & speaking proficiency (or all the modalities that exist in the language) in a language or languages other than English.

Biliteracy Participation: Requirements

(5th & 8th Grade)

Biliteracy Recognitions Example

(5th & 8th Grade)

Each student who qualifies for a Biliteracy Program Recognition will receive a certificate. We hope to award ribbons to students who qualify for the Biliteracy Attainment award as well.

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Awards will be mailed to principals in May. Sites may distribute these at 5th grade promotion or 8th grade graduation ceremonies.

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Multilingual Pathways Communication Timeline

• Mid-March: Inform 5th & 8th grade teachers of World Language, Biliteracy & Dual Immersion programs
• March 20: Discuss awards & ways to share information with families Elementary & MS World Language PLC
• March 26 (3-4pm): Zoom Q&A Session with Admin & Counselors
• April: Notify families via Oasis

Biliteracy Recognitions: Outreach

• Inform students & families about Biliteracy recognitions & requirements
• School newsletters
• Post pathways to biliteracy information on your school website and/or display around school in prominent places
• Distribute awards to students at promotion/graduation
• Implement any additional site celebrations
• Ensure grades are submitted & accurately reflect students’ language capabilities (for Biliteracy Attainment - 8th grade only)
• Encourage students to complete ELPAC & CAASPP & try their best on these assessments (for Biliteracy Attainment - 8th grade only)

Biliteracy Recognitions: Site Commitments

Biliteracy Recognitions Celebration Ideas

• Announce students' names at promotion/graduation
• Include students’ names in promotion/graduation pamphlet
• Group photo of students holding their certificates
• Small award (i.e. summer reading book in language)
• Spread of traditional foods for families after promotion
• School-wide performance (traditional dance and/or music)

Scenario 1:

Student A is in 8th grade. They have an overall score of 3 on the ELPAC (with a score of 3 on both Oral & Written Language Composite Skills) and a C for their fall semester 2024 English Language Arts grade. They are enrolled in a Dual Language Spanish Immersion course and received a B in this course for their fall semester 2024.

Biliteracy Recognitions Scenarios

Student A will receive the Biliteracy Attainment recognition. We disregard the C for English Language Arts since students only need to meet one English requirement.

Student A will not receive the Biliteracy Participation recognition as they will already receive the Biliteracy Attainment recognition.

Scenario 2:

Student C is in 8th grade. They earned a D for their fall semester 2024 English Language Arts grade and scored “standard nearly met” on the CAASPP ELA. They are enrolled in a Mandarin World Language course and received an A in this course for their fall semester 2024.

Biliteracy Recognitions Scenarios

Student C will receive the Biliteracy Program Participation recognition. While the student showed proficiency in World Language, they did not meet any of the English proficiency requirements, so they will not receive the Biliteracy Attainment recognition.

Scenario 3:

Student B is in 5th grade. They are enrolled in a Filipino World Language course and an English Language arts course during the fall and spring semesters.

Biliteracy Recognitions Scenarios

Student B will receive the Biliteracy Program Participation recognition regardless of grades, as this is the only award available at the 5th grade level and they are enrolled in both an English and World Language course.

• 8th Grade Biliteracy Recognitions Illuminate Report
• Biliteracy Recognitions Requirements
• SFUSD Biliteracy Recognitions Website

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Biliteracy Recognitions Resources

• Testimonials from SFUSD Seal of Biliteracy earners
• Video featuring SFUSD Seal of Biliteracy earners
• Current Seal of Biliteracy Requirements & Informational Slide Deck

Learn about the Seal of Biliteracy

(for graduating seniors)

Questions?

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Please contact Monica Cope, World Language Content Specialist: copem@sfusd.edu or Irene Aragon, World Language & English Language Development Content Specialist: aragoni@sfusd.edu

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Contact Information

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