[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3119 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3119
To award grants to States to establish or improve, and carry out a Seal
of Biliteracy program to recognize high-level student proficiency in
speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 5, 2019
Ms. Brownley of California (for herself, Mr. Carbajal, Mrs. Napolitano,
Mr. Cardenas, and Mr. Langevin) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award grants to States to establish or improve, and carry out a Seal
of Biliteracy program to recognize high-level student proficiency in
speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Biliteracy Education Seal and
Teaching Act'' or the ``BEST Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The people of the United States celebrate cultural and
linguistic diversity and seek to prepare students with skills
to succeed in the 21st century.
(2) It is fitting to commend the dedication of students who
have achieved proficiency in multiple languages and to
encourage their peers to follow in their footsteps.
(3) The study of world languages in elementary and
secondary schools should be encouraged because it contributes
to a student's cognitive development and to the national
economy and security.
(4) The congressionally requested Commission on Language
Learning, in its 2017 report ``America's Languages: Investing
in Language Education for the 21st Century,'' notes the
pressing national need for more Americans proficient in two or
more languages, for national security, economic growth, and the
fulfillment of the potential of all Americans.
(5) Recognition of student achievement in language
proficiency will enable institutions of higher education and
employers to readily recognize and acknowledge the valuable
expertise of bilingual students in academia and the workplace.
(6) California has pioneered the first State system in the
Nation to recognize students for achieving proficiency in
multiple languages. In 2012, California awarded a Seal of
Biliteracy to over 10,000 graduating high school seniors in 37
school districts. By 2019, 35 States and the District of
Columbia will have adopted the Seal of Biliteracy.
(7) Students in every State should be able to benefit from
a Seal of Biliteracy program.
SEC. 3. STATE SEAL OF BILITERACY PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Education shall award grants
to States to establish or improve, and carry out a Seal of Biliteracy
program to recognize student proficiency in speaking, reading, and
writing in both English and a second language.
(b) Grant Application.--In order to receive a grant under this
section, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as
the Secretary may require, including--
(1) a description of the criteria a student must meet to
demonstrate proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in
both English and a second language;
(2) assurances that a student who meets the requirements
under paragraph (1)--
(A) receives a permanent seal or other marker on
the student's secondary school diploma or its
equivalent; and
(B) receives documentation of proficiency in the
student's official academic transcript; and
(3) assurances that a student is not charged a fee for
submitting an application under subsection (c).
(c) Student Participation in a Seal of Biliteracy Program.--To
participate in a Seal of Biliteracy program, a student must submit an
application to the State that serves the student at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information and assurances as the State may
require, including assurances that the student--
(1) will receive a secondary school diploma or its
equivalent in the year the student submits an application; and
(2) has met the criteria established by the State under
subsection (b)(1).
(d) Student Eligibility for Application.--A student who gained
proficiency in a second language outside of school may apply to
participate in a Seal of Biliteracy program under subsection (c).
(e) Use of Funds.--Grant funds made available under this section
shall be used for--
(1) the administrative costs of establishing or improving,
and carrying out a Seal of Biliteracy program; and
(2) public outreach and education about such program.
(f) Grant Terms.--
(1) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall be
for a period of 2 years, and may be renewed at the discretion
of the Secretary.
(2) Renewal.--At the end of a grant term, the recipient of
such grant may reapply for a grant under this section.
(3) Limitations.--A grant recipient under this section
shall not have more than 1 grant under this section at anytime.
(4) Return of unspent grant funds.--Not later than 6 months
after the date on which a grant term ends, a recipient of a
grant under this section shall return any unspent grant funds
to the Secretary.
(g) Report.--Not later than 9 months after receiving a grant under
this section, a grant recipient shall issue a report to the Secretary
describing the implementation of the Seal of Biliteracy program for
which the State received such grant.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) ESEA definitions.--The terms ``secondary school'',
``Secretary'', and ``State'' have the meanings given those
terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) Second language.--The term ``second language'' means
any language other than English, including Braille and American
Sign Language.
(3) Seal of biliteracy program.--The term ``Seal of
Biliteracy program'' means any program established or improved,
and carried out with funds received under this section.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020
through 2024 to carry out this section.
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