Bill Text: IL HB0037 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Amends the State Board of Education - Powers and Duties Article of the School Code. Makes the State Seal of Biliteracy available to both public and non-public high school graduates (rather than public high school graduates only) who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more language in addition to English and have met the criteria to obtain the State Seal of Biliteracy. Makes conforming changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-08-09 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0222 [HB0037 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB0037-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 101-0222
HB0037 Enrolled LRB101 00238 XWW 45242 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
2-3.159 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.159)
Sec. 2-3.159. 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 and non-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 and non-public school 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 and non-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 or non-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.
These rules shall ensure that the criteria that pupils must
achieve to earn a State Seal of Biliteracy meet the course
credit criteria established under subsection (i) of this
Section.
(f) The State Board of Education shall do both of the

following:
(1) Prepare and deliver to participating school
districts and non-public schools 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 and
non-public schools to successfully participate in the
program.
(g) A school district or non-public school 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.
(i) For admissions purposes, each public university in this
State shall accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent

to 2 years of foreign language coursework taken during high
school if a student's high school transcript indicates that he
or she will be receiving or has received the State Seal of
Biliteracy.
(j) Each public community college and public university in
this State shall establish criteria to translate a State Seal
of Biliteracy into course credit based on foreign language
course equivalencies identified by the community college's or
university's faculty and staff and, upon request from an
enrolled student, the community college or university shall
award foreign language course credit to a student who has
received a State Seal of Biliteracy. Students enrolled in a
public community college or public university who have received
a State Seal of Biliteracy must request course credit for their
seal within 3 academic years after graduating from high school.
(Source: P.A. 98-560, eff. 8-27-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14;
99-600, eff. 1-1-17.)