1. State Seal of Biliteracy
Recognizing Students and Building Capacity
April 10, 2014

2. Presentation Agenda Introduction Overview of the Seal
Progress and Plans
National Update
One District’s Story
A Seal Responsive to All Learners
The Awards
Attributes to be Developed/Expected
How Does it Work in Smaller Districts?
Next Steps/Questions

3. Desired Outcomes
Shared understanding of the proposed Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy
Incorporate your feedback into our next steps
Promote enthusiasm for the Seal
Build our network of partners for this initiative

4. Current Workgroup Members
Laurie Burgos, Racine
Pam Delfosse, Madison
D. García, Waukesha
Mandi Maurice, Middleton-Cross Plains
Jesús Reveles, Madison
Tolú Sanabria, DPI
Ron Sandoval, Delavan-Darien

5. “The degeneration of the mother tongue of people is the degeneration of both social participation and its own very identity.”
“The denial of a people’s native tongue is a denial of their participation in society and of their very identity.” Eduardo Hernández-Chávez (1988)

6. Parking Lot
Your feedback is critical to the work of this group. Questions you may have during the presentation? stick them on the parking lot and we will answer them following the presentation.

7. Why a Seal of Biliteracy?
To frame the multilingualism and multiculturalism already existing within our schools as an asset and something to be developed and nurtured.
To raise awareness among educators, administrators, parents, students, and policy makers of the benefits of bilingualism, biliteracy, and intercultural awareness.
To elevate the status of bilingualism and biliteracy in the eyes of institutions of higher learning and employers.

8. Progress & Plans
Overview of DPI and workgroup meetings, process and outcomes to date.
Vision for stakeholder engagement, process and timeline through completion.

9. National Update •Federal Seal of Biliteracy and Testing
•Approved State Seals of Biliteracy
–California, New York, Illinois, Washington
•Proposed State Seals of Biliteracy
–Washington, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, Utah
•Work in Progress: Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy Consortium
–DPI, Colleges/Universities, Local School Districts & Professional Organization Representatives
•Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy Criteria - most recent draft on flash drive
If there are changes to the current DRAFT, please change the link.

10. One District’s Journey (MMSD)
School Board approved development of District Seal of Biliteracy for class of 2017 eligibility (June 2012)
Draft of working definition of “biliteracy”
Planning for inclusive model (ESL, bilingual, heritage, world language learners)
Criteria drafted for future review by stakeholders
Proficiency assessment review & recommendation workgroup in process
District Administrator Leadership Team support
Work to be embedded within high school reform effort
District criteria available upon request to Pam Delfosse (See Jesus for contact information)

11. MMSD Working Definition
Biliteracy is competence with literacy skills in two languages and the ability to apply those skills within one’s educational, social, linguistic, cultural, political and psychological context.

12. MMSD Implementation Proposal
Fall Spring 2016
•Determine participation and attainment criteria
•Collaborate with DPI Consortium to align MMSD and State Seal of Biliteracy
•Finalize Seal of Biliteracy Implementation Plan
•Seek BOE approval of implementation plan
(winter 2014)
•Develop essential elements of plan to include a language proficiency development and assessment system
•Communicate program elements and criteria to stakeholders
•Award Seal of Biliteracy to qualifying graduates

13. Seal of Biliteracy Responsive to All Learners
English language learners
Bilingual language learners
World language learners
Heritage language learners

14. Seal of Biliteracy Awards
2 Award Types (attainment in 3-12)
By Grade Level Bands (PK,K-5, 6- 8, 9-12)
Attainment D
How to we create opportunities for ALL Learners without diminishing what this award means?
How to we ensure inclusive opportunities to earn the award, creating pathways and removing barriers?
As a team we have grappled with defining participation and attainment for ALL students and this is our story.

15. Seal of Biliteracy: Sociocultural Lens
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
Active use of language
Service to others
Positive attitudes towards bilingualism and cultural competency

16. Seal of Biliteracy: Sociocultural Lens
Active Use
*oral presentations
*writing samples
*peer tutoring
*parent engagement activities
Service to Others
*reading buddies
*service learning projects
*character building programs
*volunteer work with multilingual community agencies
Positive Attitudes
*leadership skills
*written essays
*oral presentations
*response to cultural events
*self-reflections
We know and value that language, culture, and identity are inextricable. This is an overarching belief that encompasses/frames the essence of the Seal of Biliteracy. From the start, we want our students to see that they are learning languages for more than just proficiency growth or increased career opportunities; that there is value in being able to communicate with and serve others in order to become multicultural, which means viewing the world through multiple perspectives. Because of this, as districts work to develop criteria, it is important to infuse opportunities for students to demonstrate their sociocultural capacity by actively using their languages, serving others, and developing positive attitudes towards bilingualism. The evidence can be gathered through authentic experiences in the school or community.

17. Climb that tree!XXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
Assessment
To ensure a fair XXX
selection you all get the same test. XXXXXXX
Climb that tree!XXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
We have shared a lot of collaboration around a variety of subjects in evaluating Biliteracy attainment.
One of our greatest concerns was that our assessments did not provide opportunities for ALL learners to meet criteria for the Attainment award in the same way.
For example, we may have some partner languages that are not written (hmong) or spoken (Latin), or that cannot be found in the school setting (Karen, Gujarati etc.). and that we We may have some students who can achieve an exemplary or distinguished level of attainment that is rare and set apart, but more possible as we create Dual Language
Programs that endure from PK into the secondary schools.
Additionally we may experience new comer English Learners arriving with superior skills in their first language and developing skills in English.
We have struggled to define criteria for assessment as determined by each district, as it could lead to different criteria for attainment, and the potential to engage in performance based assessment portfolios and the need to create rubrics that communicate criteria.
We have struggled to determine whether to earn this award a student must be proficient on State Assessments, or whether participation in “seat time” would be a source of evidence.
A promising practice to explore further might be a balanced performance assessment which includes some evidence of standard assessment like AP, IB, ACCESS or ACT, but also includes demonstration of having met some common criteria in authentically created samples of language production, with multiple opportunities to demonstrate growth over time.
As we continue to articulate the measurables for the attainment award, we will have EQUITY, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT and AUTHENTICITY in mind.

18. Evaluating Achievement 3-12
ENGLISH
Partner Language
PURPOSE
Measure achievement in English Language and Academics in the English Language*
Measure achievement in the Partner Language
ASSESSMENT
Access for ELs, Classroom/District Assessment
Classroom, District to IB/AP/AAPPL
COSTS
No Additional Cost to Student/District
Cost to Student/District Free-$100
PRO
Embedded in District Work, and so low cost/free
IB/AP value add, AAPPL online multiple languages
CON
Language and Content achievement often synonymous
Potential for different criteria and measures by district
Costly
Measures different skills than English Evals
Biliteracy achievement will be measured by the students linguistic and academic achievement in English and the target language. We are looking at setting performance goals at the Advanced levels according to the ACTFL descriptors as measured by a variety of tools. As tools are varied, we may not be able to compare acheivment from one to the Next.
Assessment for Biliteracy is at the status of practice and craft-to innovate a robust evaluation system, we are considering combined efforts to create achievement and performance criteria and from which to make judgements about authentic tasks via a portfolio assessment process.
Might we focus on students meeting and demonstrating proficiency based on shared criteria and rubrics to evaluate achievement

19. Essential Questions about Language Achievement/Evaluation
Do we create different paths of attainment to reflect the possibilities of achievement for all students?
(regular versus distinguished)
How can we create criteria for achievement for students with varied linguistic backgrounds?
(ELL, Dual Language Learners, Heritage Speakers)

20. What if my school or district doesn’t have a bilingual program?
In the short term, the following are accessible:
WI Seal of Biliteracy Participation Award
WI Global Education Achievement Certificate
Some students may still qualify for the WI Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Award:
Heritage language speakers (who may or may not be ELLs)
Students at high levels of world language attainment
Students excelling in world language programs
Students who have lived/attended school abroad
In order to maintain the integrity of the Seal of Biliteracy Achievement Award, students MUST achieve high levels of proficiency in at least two languages to qualify. Criteria must remain high.

21. What if my school or district doesn’t have a bilingual program?
In the long term, the Seal of Biliteracy can help schools advocate for the establishment or enhancement of programming to support students in becoming truly multilingual:
From subtractive to additive bilingual programs
From 6-12 world language programs to K-12 world language programs
To increase rigor in already existing programs

22. Next Steps Finalize Criteria Develop a Plan Form Form Review Teams
Spread the Word!
Involve IHEs
Feedback Needed!

24. Operation Cooperation