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September, 2024
Dear Families,
We are pleased to inform you of Abington’s continued participation in the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is offered to any student who demonstrates proficiency in English and any other language, whether they speak or sign the language other than English at home or learned it at school or in the community. Students who earn the Seal of Biliteracy will be recognized at their AHS commencement ceremony upon meeting all graduation requirements.
The State Seal of Biliteracy aims to:
1. Encourage students to study and master languages;
2. Certify attainment of biliteracy skills;
3. Recognize the value of language diversity;
4. Provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills;
5. Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of high-level skills in languages;
6. Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society; and
7. Strengthen intergroup communication and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community.
In order to earn the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy, students must:
1. Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by earning a score of 472 or higher on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS (administered in the spring of grade 10),
2. Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a world language by attaining a minimum score equivalent to Intermediate-High on an assessment approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and
3. Satisfy all other graduation requirements.
The Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction is available to students who:
1. Earn a score of 501 or higher on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS
2. Demonstrate a proficiency level of Advanced Low or higher on a Department-approved assessment, and
3. Satisfy all other graduation requirements.
The STAMP Proficiency Assessment will be administered in the spring for AHS students in Spanish II, IV, and V as well as any students who CHOOSE to take the test (in various other languages) at no cost. We look forward to honoring the language expertise and diversity in our district through this initiative. More information will follow in the coming months about the STAMP test. If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you,
Dr. Christopher T. Basta, Assistant Superintendent, chrisbasta@abingtonps.org