Read first time 01/24/14.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a state seal of biliteracy for high school students; amending RCW 28A.230.125; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) The study of world languages in elementary and secondary schools should be encouraged because it contributes to students' cognitive development and to the national economy and security;
     (b) Proficiency in multiple languages enables Washington to participate more effectively in the current global political, social, and economic context;
     (c) The benefits to employers of having employees who are fluent in more than one language are clear: Increased access to expanding markets, better service of customers' needs, and expanded trading opportunities with other countries; and
     (d) Protecting the state's rich heritage of multiple cultures and languages, as well as building trust and understanding across the multiple cultures and languages of diverse communities, requires multilingual communication skills.
     (2) Therefore, the legislature's intent is to promote and recognize linguistic proficiency and cultural literacy in one or more world languages in addition to English through the establishment of a Washington state seal of biliteracy.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The Washington state seal of biliteracy is established to recognize public high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more world languages in addition to English. School districts are encouraged to award the seal of biliteracy to graduating high school students who meet the criteria established by the office of the superintendent of public instruction under this section. Participating school districts shall place a notation on a student's high school diploma and high school transcript indicating that the student has earned the seal.
     (2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules establishing criteria for award of the Washington state seal of biliteracy. The criteria must require a student to demonstrate proficiency in English by meeting state high school graduation requirements in English, including through state assessments and credits, and proficiency in one or more world languages other than English. The criteria must permit a student to demonstrate proficiency in another world language through multiple methods including nationally or internationally recognized language proficiency tests and competency-based world language credits awarded under the model policy adopted by the Washington state school directors' association.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, a world language other than English must include American sign language and Native American languages.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.230.125 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 130 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the four-year institutions as defined in RCW 28B.76.020, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the workforce training and education coordinating board, shall develop for use by all public school districts a standardized high school transcript. The superintendent shall establish clear definitions for the terms "credits" and "hours" so that school programs operating on the quarter, semester, or trimester system can be compared.
     (2) The standardized high school transcript shall include a notation of whether the student has earned a certificate of individual achievement or a certificate of academic achievement.
     (3) The standardized high school transcript may include a notation of whether the student has earned the Washington state seal of biliteracy established under section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   By December 1, 2017, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall submit a report to the education committees of the legislature that compares the number of students awarded the Washington state seal of biliteracy in the previous two school years and the languages spoken by those students, to the number of students enrolled or previously enrolled in the transitional bilingual instruction program and the languages spoken by those students. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall also report the methods used by students to demonstrate proficiency for the Washington state seal of biliteracy, and describe how the office of the superintendent of public instruction plans to increase the number of possible methods for students to demonstrate proficiency, particularly in world languages that are not widely spoken.