The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is announcing that more than 1,600 students countywide earned the State Seal of Biliteracy for the 2021–22 school year. The seal is awarded to seniors who have demonstrated English competency, plus competency in another language by meeting specific criteria.
To earn this distinction, students must demonstrate English competency by meeting the English language arts standards of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), plus receive good grades in all English classes required for high school graduation. In addition, students must demonstrate language proficiency by taking a four-year course of study in a world language or passing a test (such as the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams).
During a virtual ceremony yesterday—marking the tenth year since the program was established by the State Assembly—Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon told the students, “We live in a rich multicultural society. Respect for diversity makes us stronger, as a community, as a state, and as a country.” He went on to say, “Being multi-lingual gives young people a deeper insight and understanding of their own heritage, and the heritage of others.”
Besides English, this year’s Sacramento County Seal of Biliteracy recipients in Sacramento County are proficient in a range of 22 languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), Arabic, Armenian, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Dari, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
SCOE collaborated with the following Sacramento County school districts and independent charter schools in this year’s Seal of Biliteracy program:
- Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School
- Capital City School
- Center Joint USD
- Choices Charter School
- Creative Connections Arts Academy
- El Sereno High School
- Elk Grove USD
- Folsom Cordova USD
- Futures High School Charter
- Gateway Community Charter
- Galt Joint Union HSD
- George W. Carver School of Arts and Science
- Kit Carson International Academy
- Las Flores High School
- Leroy Greene Academy
- Natomas USD
- Natomas Charter School
- Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Charter
- Rio Cazadero High School
- River Delta USD
- Sacramento Academic and Vocational Academy
- Sacramento City USD
- San Juan USD
- School of Engineering and Sciences
- The Met Sacramento High School
- Twin Rivers USD
- Visions in Education Charter
- Vista Nueva Career and Technology High School