A recent publication by Roswell Daily Record discusses the growing popularity of recognizing student accomplishment in language acquisition. In New Mexico, over 1,300 high school students have achieved a Seal of Bilingualism-Biliteracy on their diploma. The Seal recognizes student proficiency in a language other than English and offers students the chance to be “meaningfully recognized for their accomplishments,” according to Education Secretary Christopher Ruszkowski.
So far, NM students have earned the Seal for demonstrating proficiency in Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Keres, Navajo, Tewa, Tiwa and Zuni. Given the success of the program, Ruszkowski encourages local school districts to incorporate this opportunity for bilingual students:
“We must provide concrete opportunities for students to pursue multilingualism. It is central to the linguistic and cultural diversity of New Mexico and crucial in the 21st-century economy. Earning the seal provides our students with evidence of skills such as biliteracy, cultural intelligence and global dexterity, all of which are essential to our students’ identities and important to college admissions offices and future employers. Our students deserve both rigor and relevance —and every school must deliver on both promises.”
The article suggests that since the implementation of the Seal student grades in reading and math have improved, more students are taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes) and statewide graduation rates are at an all-time high.
-Melissa Hoppie, Graduate Research Assistant
