§ 815. State seal of biliteracy. 1. (a) The state seal of biliteracy
is established to recognize high school graduates who have attained a
high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing
in one or more languages in addition to English. The state seal of
biliteracy shall be awarded by the commissioner. School district
participation in this program is voluntary.

(b) 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 twenty-first century skills.

(6) To recognize the value of foreign language and native language
instruction in public schools. For the purpose of this section foreign
language means any language other than English (LOTE) including all
modern languages, Latin, American Sign Language, Native American
languages and native languages.

(7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of
diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community.

2. (a) The state seal of biliteracy certifies attainment of a high
level of proficiency by a graduating high school pupil in one or more
languages, in addition to English.

(b) The board of regents shall promulgate such regulations of the
commissioner as may be necessary to establish the criteria that students
must achieve to earn a state seal of biliteracy, which may include, but
is not limited to attainment of units of credit in English language arts
and languages other than English, passage of state assessments in
English language arts and language other than English, and passage of
such additional assessments of foreign language proficiency as may be
approved by the commissioner for this purpose.

(c) For purposes of this section, foreign language means any language
other than English (LOTE) including all modern languages, Latin,
American Sign Language, Native American languages and native languages.

3. The commissioner shall do both of the following:

(a) Prepare and deliver to participating school districts an
appropriate insignia to be affixed to the diploma and transcript of the
pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a state seal of
biliteracy by the commissioner.

(b) Provide other information he or she deems necessary for school
districts to successfully participate in the program.

4. A school district that participates in the program under this
section shall do both of the following:

(a) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify pupils who have
earned a state seal of biliteracy.

(b) Affix the appropriate insignia to the diploma and transcript of
each pupil who earns a state seal of biliteracy.

5. No fee shall be charged to a pupil pursuant to this section.