Florida Senate - 2016 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/CS/HB 7029, 1st Eng.
Ì2447726Î244772
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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Floor: WD .
03/04/2016 03:53 PM .
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Senator Flores moved the following:
1 Senate Amendment to Amendment (274472) (with title
2 amendment)
3
4 Between lines 1206 and 1207
5 insert:
6 Section 11. Section 1003.432, Florida Statutes, is created
7 to read:
8 1003.432 Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program for high school
9 graduates.—
10 (1) As used in this section, the term:
11 (a) “Biliteracy” means attainment of a high level of
12 competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one
13 or more foreign languages in addition to English, which is
14 signified on a high school graduate’s diploma and transcript as
15 either a Gold Seal of Biliteracy or a Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
16 (b) “Foreign language” means a language other than English
17 and includes American Sign Language, classical languages, and
18 indigenous languages.
19 (c) “Gold” means the highest level of competency certified
20 by the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program.
21 (d) “Silver” means the second highest level of competency
22 certified by the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program.
23 (2) The Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program is established
24 to recognize a high school graduate who has attained a high
25 level of competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing
26 in one or more foreign languages in addition to English. The
27 Commissioner of Education shall award the Seal of Biliteracy
28 upon graduation to a high school student who meets the
29 qualifications in this section. The seal must differentiate
30 between two levels of competency, designated as Gold and Silver,
31 which must be at least as rigorous as is recommended in the
32 biliteracy seal guidelines established by national organizations
33 supporting foreign languages instruction.
34 (3) The purpose of the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program
35 is to:
36 (a) Encourage students to study foreign languages.
37 (b) Certify attainment of biliteracy.
38 (c) Provide employers with a method of identifying an
39 individual with biliteracy skills who is seeking employment.
40 (d) Provide a postsecondary institution with a method of
41 recognizing an applicant with biliteracy skills who is seeking
42 admission to the postsecondary institution.
43 (e) Recognize and promote foreign language instruction in
44 public schools.
45 (f) Affirm the value of diversity, honor multiple cultures
46 and foreign languages, and strengthen the relationships between
47 multiple cultures in a community.
48 (4) The Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of
49 Biliteracy must be awarded to a high school student who has
50 earned a standard high school diploma and who:
51 (a) Has earned four foreign language course credits in the
52 same foreign language with a cumulative 3.0 grade point average
53 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
54 (b) Has achieved a qualifying score on a foreign language
55 assessment; or
56 (c) Has satisfied alternative requirements as determined by
57 the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (8).
58 (5) The Commissioner of Education shall:
59 (a) Prepare and provide to each school district an
60 appropriate insignia to be affixed to the student’s diploma
61 indicating that the student has been awarded the Gold Seal of
62 Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
63 (b) Provide information necessary for a school district to
64 successfully implement the program.
65 (6) Each school district shall:
66 (a) Maintain appropriate records to identify a student who
67 has met the requirements to receive the Gold Seal of Biliteracy
68 or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
69 (b) Provide the Commissioner of Education with the number
70 of students who have met the requirements to receive the Gold
71 Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
72 (c) Affix the appropriate insignia to the student’s diploma
73 and indicate on the student’s transcript that the student has
74 earned the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of
75 Biliteracy.
76 (7) A school district or the Department of Education may
77 not charge a fee for the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver
78 Seal of Biliteracy.
79 (8) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
80 implement this section. Such rules, at a minimum, must include:
81 (a) A process to confirm a student’s successful completion
82 of the requirements in subsection (4).
83 (b) The assessments and corresponding passing scores
84 required to earn the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal
85 of Biliteracy, which may not be lower than the passing scores on
86 at least one of the following:
87 1. An International Baccalaureate examination in the
88 foreign language;
89 2. An Advanced Placement examination in the foreign
90 language;
91 3. An SAT Subject Test examination in the foreign language;
92 or
93 4. An Advanced International Certificate of Education
94 examination in the foreign language.
95 (c) Alternative requirements a student may satisfy to
96 demonstrate equivalent competency in a foreign language,
97 including requirements a student whose native language is not
98 English may satisfy to demonstrate competency in his or her
99 native language to earn the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the
100 Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
101 (d) A process to award foreign language course credits to a
102 student who was not enrolled in a foreign language course or who
103 did not complete the course but has demonstrated competency in a
104 foreign language as provided in this subsection.
105
106 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
107 And the title is amended as follows:
108 Delete line 2680
109 and insert:
110 credit; creating s. 1003.432, F.S.; defining terms;
111 establishing the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program to
112 recognize a high school graduate who has attained a
113 high level of competency in one or more foreign
114 languages; providing the purpose of the program;
115 specifying criteria to earn a Gold Seal of Biliteracy
116 or a Silver Seal of Biliteracy; requiring the
117 Commissioner of Education and school districts to
118 perform specified duties to administer the program;
119 prohibiting a school district or the Department of
120 Education from charging a fee for the seals; requiring
121 the State Board of Education to adopt rules; amending
122 s. 1004.935, F.S.; deleting the