Public Act 101-0222
 
HB0037 EnrolledLRB101 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.)