Giving students an edge in global society

Four Rochelle Township High School students earn Seal of Biliteracy

Posted 5/25/19

At Rochelle Township High School there is great pride in preparing students for their tomorrow and realistically, that means preparing students for life in the 21st Century and a global society.

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Giving students an edge in global society

Four Rochelle Township High School students earn Seal of Biliteracy

Posted

ROCHELLE — At Rochelle Township High School there is great pride in preparing students for their tomorrow and realistically, that means preparing students for life in the 21st Century and a global society.
This year, four RTHS students will graduate with a special status, having earned the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy, meaning they are not only proficient in reading, writing and speaking in two languages, but they are also bicultural. Certificates were presented to them Tuesday morning by principal Chris Lewis and guidance counselor Javier Zepeda.
The 2019 recipients are Citlaly Villalobos, Lisette Milan, Judy Fulgencio and Josue Almaraz.
Villalobos is headed to the University of Chicago to study biochemistry. Fulgencio will study psychology at Kishwaukee College. Almaraz, too, is headed to Kishwaukee College where he will study computer engineering and Milan, who graduated in December, will study at Kishwaukee College with a major in education.
The Seal of Biliteracy is a fairly new award given by a school, school district or county office of education in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by the time they graduate high school. As proof, an actual seal appears on the transcript or diploma of the graduating senior. It’s a statement of accomplishment for college admissions offices and future employers to note.
The reasons for instituting the Seal of Biliteracy and Pathways to Biliteracy Awards are numerous:
• To encourage students to study languages
• To certify attainment of biliteracy skills
• To recognize the value of language diversity

• To provide employers a way to identify people with language/biliteracy skills
• To provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of high level skills in multiple languages
•To prepare students with 21st Century skills that will benefit them in the labor force and the global society
• To strengthen intergroup relationships and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community.
“Our first step toward implementing a Seal of Biliteracy was to clarify our purpose. It was three-fold,” Zepeda explained. “We framed a rationale that resonates with students and community. It is an emphasis on 21st Century skills, and learning respect for diversity which brings students closer together, and taking pride in our diverse cultures.”
As of March 2019, 36 states plus the District of Columbia have recognized the State Seal of Biliteracy. According to highschool.com, there are 1,292 high schools in Illinois. This year, 107 Illinois schools have indicated their intention to award the state Seal of Biliteracy.
Zepeda said there is an economic incentive, too. The program rewards for students taking on this extra academic challenge and achieving its goal.
For example, students who graduate with the Seal of Biliteracy can receive up to 12 language credits at Northern Illinois University.
“That represents a considerable cost savings for our families and it creates the option of graduating with a bachelor’s degree in the area of their choosing with a minor in their other language,” Zepeda said.
The cost of in-state undergraduate credit hours at NIU was about $450 per credit in the 2017-18 school year. Twelve hours of language credits represents a savings of $5,400. Zepeda said it would take only an additional few credits for a minor in Spanish.  
“And that (minor) opens up a world of employment opportunities for students,” he added.
All Illinois public colleges and universities acknowledge the seal. The number of language hours credited can vary.
For graduates not pursuing degrees, the Biliteracy Seal remains an invaluable tool.
“The seal is stamped on a student’s high school transcript, which will show future employers that a particular job candidate has a language skill set that may be expressly suited for that company. We have a shortage of foreign language teachers,” Zepeda said. “And through this program and the dual language programs implemented in Rochelle Elementary District 231, it is possible we can develop our own pool of tomorrow’s teachers.”
Milan has spent this semester in an elementary school classroom through the Hub Project.
“I’ve been working more hours to save money for college in the fall where I plan to major in elementary education, too, but I going to Hub classroom (at Lincoln School) has helped me gain experience working with kids,” Milan said. “My class was so much fun to work with, and Mrs. Tiffany Siebrasse was a huge help with tips and advice for my career. I know this award will open up more possibilities for me in the future, and I couldn’t be more excited.”