Seal of Biliteracy

Dear Baldwin Students and Parents:

We are pleased to notify you that Baldwin High School will continue its partnership with New York State to present qualified students with the Seal of Biliteracy. The New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English, and in one or more languages. Earning the Seal of Biliteracy is a significant accomplishment that sets students apart and recognizes their high level of academic achievement in more than one language. Students can include information about their eligibility for the Seal of Biliteracy to support their college applications.

There are two major pathways for students at Baldwin to take to earn the Seal of Biliteracy:

OR

In addition to the initial criteria above, successful candidates must also show proficiency in English and their other language by presenting a culminating project, essay, or portfolio. The complete menu of options for earning the Seal of Biliteracy is included below; however, because the menu of options could be confusing, we encourage all students that meet the initial criteria to apply. Once we receive your application, an advisor will be assigned to you to help you determine your next steps towards earning the Seal of Biliteracy. Any student that is interested in earning the Seal of Biliteracy in their native language should contact the Director for ENL & Foreign Languages, Dr. Kalamaras, so that he can advise them on how to meet the Seal requirements. 

To submit your initial application for the Seal of Biliteracy, please follow the link below and contact Dr. Kalamaras. You can e-mail Dr. Kalamaras or go by his office in Room 610 so that he can review your transcript and application.

https://goo.gl/forms/JypNRykNWabKeLA22

Baldwin High School Seal of Biliteracy Framework

Requirements:

Criteria for Demonstrating Proficiency in English	Point Value	Criteria for Demonstrating Proficiency in a World Language	Point Value
*Score 75 or higher on the NYS Comprehensive English Regents Examination; OR *Score 80 or higher on the NYS Regents Examination in English Language Arts (Common Core); OR *English Language Learners (ELLs) score 75 or above on two Regents exams other than English, without translation.	1	Complete a Checkpoint C level World Language course, with a grade of 85 or higher.   Checkpoint C level courses in Baldwin: French 4 H, French 5R, AP French, Italian 4H, Italian 5R, AP, Italian, Spanish 4H, Native Spanish B, and AP Spanish.	1
ELLs score at the Commanding level on two modalities on the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT).	1	Provide transcripts from a school in a country outside of the U.S. showing at least three years of instruction in the student’s home/native language in Grade 8 or beyond, with an equivalent grade average of B or higher	1
Complete all 11th and 12th grade ELA courses with an average of 85 or higher.	1	For students enrolled in a Bilingual Education program, complete all required Home Language Arts (HLA) coursework and the district HLA exam with an 85 or higher.	1
*Achieve a score of 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) English Language or English Literature examination; OR * Score 80 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).	1	Score at a proficient level on an accredited Checkpoint C World Language assessment.   Checkpoint C Assessments include the AP, IB, DELE, AAPPL, OPI, WPT, RPT, LPT, ALIRA, and SLPI: ASL Exams	1
Present a culminating project, scholarly essay or portfolio that meets the criteria for speaking, listening, reading, and writing established by Baldwin’s Seal of Biliteracy Committee to a panel of reviewers with proficiency in English.	2	Present a culminating project, scholarly essay or portfolio that meets the criteria for speaking, listening, reading, and writing established by Baldwin’s Seal of Biliteracy Committee to a panel of reviewers with proficiency in the target language.	2

1. Students complete (or plan to complete) coursework in the World Language Department in French, Italian, or Spanish at the 4H, 5R, Native B, or AP level.
2. Students are native speakers of any world language and can demonstrate their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in that language.

•     Students wishing to receive the NYSSB must complete all requirements for graduating with a NYS Regents diploma.
•     In addition to the above minimum requirement, students wishing to receive a NYSSB must earn three (3) points in each of the two (2) areas listed below: