Current through February 24, 2025
(a) The Seal of Biliteracy is established to
recognize high school students who have attained proficiency in the areas of
speaking, listening, writing, and reading in one or more world languages in
addition to proficiency in English language arts. A district may elect to offer
a Seal of Biliteracy to the district students.
(b) High school students must meet the
following criteria to be awarded the Seal of Biliteracy:
(1) demonstrate proficiency in English
language arts by meeting the statewide minimum graduation requirements in
language arts under
4
AAC 06.075 with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher
on a scale of 4.0, and one of the following:
(A) achieve proficient or higher on the
standards-based assessment in English language arts under
4
AAC 06.739;
(B) achieve an overall composite score of 4.5
or higher on the state-approved assessment of English language proficiency
under 4 AAC 34.055(c)
with a score of 3.5 or higher in each of the testing domains;
(C) achieve a score of 16 or higher on the
English language arts (ELA) portion of the AC 9 administered by ACT,
Inc.
(D) achieve a score of 460 or
higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) portion of the SAT,
administered by the College Board Educational Testing Service; or
(E) achieve a score of 4 or higher on the
reading for information and locating information areas of the WorkKeys
assessment, administered by ACT, Inc
(2) demonstrate proficiency in one or more
world languages through one of the following methods:
(A) achieve a score of three or higher on a
world language Advanced Placement examination, administered by the College
Board, Educational Testing Service; or
(B) achieve a score of five or higher on a
world language International Baccalaureate standard level
examination;
(C) achieve a score of
four or higher on a world language International Baccalaureate higher level
examination;
(D) demonstrate
proficiency in the areas of listening, speaking, writing, and reading through
other national or international assessments at a level comparable to
intermediate-mid level proficiency or higher based on the alternative foreign
language proficiency assessment standards adopted by reference in 4 AAC
04.225;
(E) demonstrate proficiency
in the areas of listening, speaking, writing, and reading through a work
sample, body of evidence, or portfolio at a level comparable to
intermediate-mid level proficiency or higher based on the alternative foreign
language proficiency assessment standards adopted by reference in 4 AAC 04.225
if a national or international assessment is not available; or
(F) demonstrate proficiency in the areas of
listening, speaking, writing, and reading through an assessment process
recognized by a tribal government at a level comparable to intermediate-mid
level proficiency or higher based on the alternative foreign language
proficiency assessment standards adopted by reference in 4 AAC
04.225.
(c) A
student who seeks to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy through a language that
is not characterized by listening, speaking, or reading, or for which there is
no written system, shall demonstrate proficiency through assessment on the
modalities that characterize communication in that language at a level
comparable to intermediate-mid level proficiency or higher based on the
alternative foreign language proficiency assessment standards adopted by
reference in 4 AAC 04.225.
(d) A
participating district shall
(1) develop a
written policy regarding the awarding of the Seal of Biliteracy;
(2) provide assessment opportunities at least
once annually; and
(3) allow a
student to begin the qualifying process during the student's freshman
year.
(e) A
participating district may charge a fee to cover the costs of the
assessments.
(f) A participating
district shall award the Seal of Biliteracy to a student who meets the
requirements of this section and shall provide notice of the award on the
student's high school transcript and diploma.
(g) A participating district shall report to
the department the number of students awarded t the Seal of Biliteracy not
later than June 30 of each year. The report must identify the world languages
in which the students have gained proficiency.
(h) In this section, "world language" means a
non-English language; "world language" includes Alaska Native languages,
American Indian languages, and American Sign Language.
As of Register 245 (April 2023), the regulations attorney
made corrections under
AS
44.62.125(b)(6), to 4 AAC
06.079 to reflect adopted changes not previously
incorporated.
Authority:
AS
14.07.020
AS
14.07.060
