Florida Senate - 2016                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 1166
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì886610ÇÎ886610                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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                 Floor: NC/2R          .                                
             03/04/2016 01:09 PM       .                                
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       Senator Flores moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment to Amendment (913116) (with title
    2  amendment)
    3  
    4         Between lines 1206 and 1207
    5  insert:
    6         Section 11. Section 1003.432, Florida Statutes, is created
    7  to read:
    8         1003.432Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program for high school
    9  graduates.—
   10         (1)As used in this section, the term:
   11         (a)“Biliteracy” means attainment of a high level of
   12  competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one
   13  or more foreign languages in addition to English, which is
   14  signified on a high school graduate’s diploma and transcript as
   15  either a Gold Seal of Biliteracy or a Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
   16         (b)“Foreign language” means a language other than English
   17  and includes American Sign Language, classical languages, and
   18  indigenous languages.
   19         (c)“Gold” means the highest level of competency certified
   20  by the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program.
   21         (d)“Silver” means the second highest level of competency
   22  certified by the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program.
   23         (2)The Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program is established
   24  to recognize a high school graduate who has attained a high
   25  level of competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing
   26  in one or more foreign languages in addition to English. The
   27  Commissioner of Education shall award the Seal of Biliteracy
   28  upon graduation to a high school student who meets the
   29  qualifications in this section. The seal must differentiate
   30  between two levels of competency, designated as Gold and Silver,
   31  which must be at least as rigorous as is recommended in the
   32  biliteracy seal guidelines established by national organizations
   33  supporting foreign languages instruction.
   34         (3)The purpose of the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program
   35  is to:
   36         (a)Encourage students to study foreign languages.
   37         (b)Certify attainment of biliteracy.
   38         (c)Provide employers with a method of identifying an
   39  individual with biliteracy skills who is seeking employment.
   40         (d)Provide a postsecondary institution with a method of
   41  recognizing an applicant with biliteracy skills who is seeking
   42  admission to the postsecondary institution.
   43         (e)Recognize and promote foreign language instruction in
   44  public schools.
   45         (f)Affirm the value of diversity, honor multiple cultures
   46  and foreign languages, and strengthen the relationships between
   47  multiple cultures in a community.
   48         (4)The Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of
   49  Biliteracy must be awarded to a high school student who has
   50  earned a standard high school diploma and who:
   51         (a)Has earned four foreign language course credits in the
   52  same foreign language with a cumulative 3.0 grade point average
   53  or higher on a 4.0 scale;
   54         (b)Has achieved a qualifying score on a foreign language
   55  assessment; or
   56         (c)Has satisfied alternative requirements as determined by
   57  the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (8).
   58         (5)The Commissioner of Education shall:
   59         (a)Prepare and provide to each school district an
   60  appropriate insignia to be affixed to the student’s diploma
   61  indicating that the student has been awarded the Gold Seal of
   62  Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
   63         (b)Provide information necessary for a school district to
   64  successfully implement the program.
   65         (6)Each school district shall:
   66         (a)Maintain appropriate records to identify a student who
   67  has met the requirements to receive the Gold Seal of Biliteracy
   68  or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
   69         (b)Provide the Commissioner of Education with the number
   70  of students who have met the requirements to receive the Gold
   71  Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
   72         (c)Affix the appropriate insignia to the student’s diploma
   73  and indicate on the student’s transcript that the student has
   74  earned the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of
   75  Biliteracy.
   76         (7)A school district or the Department of Education may
   77  not charge a fee for the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver
   78  Seal of Biliteracy.
   79         (8)The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
   80  implement this section. Such rules, at a minimum, must include:
   81         (a)A process to confirm a student’s successful completion
   82  of the requirements in subsection (4).
   83         (b)The assessments and corresponding passing scores
   84  required to earn the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal
   85  of Biliteracy, which may not be lower than the passing scores on
   86  at least one of the following:
   87         1.An International Baccalaureate examination in the
   88  foreign language;
   89         2.An Advanced Placement examination in the foreign
   90  language;
   91         3.An SAT Subject Test examination in the foreign language;
   92  or
   93         4.An Advanced International Certificate of Education
   94  examination in the foreign language.
   95         (c)Alternative requirements a student may satisfy to
   96  demonstrate equivalent competency in a foreign language,
   97  including requirements a student whose native language is not
   98  English may satisfy to demonstrate competency in his or her
   99  native language to earn the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the
  100  Silver Seal of Biliteracy.
  101         (d)A process to award foreign language course credits to a
  102  student who was not enrolled in a foreign language course or who
  103  did not complete the course but has demonstrated competency in a
  104  foreign language as provided in this subsection.
  105  
  106  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  107  And the title is amended as follows:
  108         Delete line 2680
  109  and insert:
  110         credit; creating s. 1003.432, F.S.; defining terms;
  111         establishing the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program to
  112         recognize a high school graduate who has attained a
  113         high level of competency in one or more foreign
  114         languages; providing the purpose of the program;
  115         specifying criteria to earn a Gold Seal of Biliteracy
  116         or a Silver Seal of Biliteracy; requiring the
  117         Commissioner of Education and school districts to
  118         perform specified duties to administer the program;
  119         prohibiting a school district or the Department of
  120         Education from charging a fee for the seals; requiring
  121         the State Board of Education to adopt rules; amending
  122         s. 1004.935, F.S.; deleting the