Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching Act or the BEST Act
This bill directs the Department of Education to award renewable two-year grants to states to establish or improve, and carry out, Seal of Biliteracy programs and early language programs to recognize student proficiency in both English and a second language. Student proficiency shall be demonstrated through proficiency in speaking and writing in both languages and may also be demonstrated through reading and listening in both languages.
Further, these programs must allow speakers of any official Native American language to use equivalent proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in such language in lieu of proficiency in English.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7007 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7007
To award grants to States to establish or improve, and carry out, Seal
of Biliteracy programs to recognize high-level student proficiency in
speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language,
and early language programs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 17, 2024
Ms. Brownley (for herself, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr.
Panetta, and Ms. Sanchez) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award grants to States to establish or improve, and carry out, Seal
of Biliteracy programs to recognize high-level student proficiency in
speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language,
and early language programs.
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 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 people of the United States who
are proficient in 2 or more languages for national security,
economic growth, and the fulfillment of the potential of all
people of the United States.
(4) The Commission on Language Learning also notes the
extensive cognitive, educational, and employment benefits
deriving from biliteracy.
(5) Biliteracy in general correlates with higher graduation
rates, higher grade point averages, higher rates of
matriculation into higher education, and higher earnings for
all students, regardless of background.
(6) The study of America's 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.
(7) 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.
(8) States such as Utah, Arizona, Washington, and New
Mexico have developed innovative testing methods for languages,
including Native American languages, where no formal
proficiency test currently exists.
(9) The use of proficiency in a government-recognized
official Native American language as the base language for a
Seal of Biliteracy, with proficiency in any additional partner
language demonstrated through tested proficiency, has been
successfully demonstrated in Hawaii.
(10) Students in every State and every school should be
able to benefit from a Seal of Biliteracy program.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ESEA definitions.--The terms ``elementary school'',
``English learner'', ``local educational agency'', ``middle
grades'', ``secondary school'', 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) Classical language.--The term ``classical language''--
(A) means--
(i) a language that is no longer spoken; or
(ii) a language--
(I) the spoken varieties of which
diverge further away from the classical
language over time; and
(II) that possesses an independent
literary tradition and a large body of
ancient written literature; and
(B) includes Greek, Latin, Chinese, Arabic, and
Sanskrit.
(3) Native american language.--The term ``Native American
language'' has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the
Native American Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2902).
(4) Seal of biliteracy program.--The term ``Seal of
Biliteracy program'' means any program described in section
4(a) that is established or improved, and carried out, with
funds received under this Act.
(5) Second language.--The term ``second language''--
(A) means any language other than--
(i) English; or
(ii) in a case where the provisions of
paragraph (2) of section 4(a) apply, the Native
American language of proficiency described in
such paragraph; and
(B) includes Braille, American Sign Language, or a
classical language.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR STATE SEAL OF BILITERACY PROGRAMS.
(a) Establishment of Program.--
(1) In general.--From amounts made available under
subsection (f), the Secretary shall award grants, on a
competitive basis, to States to enable the States to establish
or improve, and carry out, Seal of Biliteracy programs and
early language programs that lead to a Seal of Biliteracy to
recognize student proficiency in both English and a second
language, which--
(A) shall be demonstrated through proficiency in
speaking and writing in both languages; and
(B) may also be demonstrated through reading and
listening in both languages.
(2) Inclusion of native american languages.--
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), each Seal of Biliteracy program
shall contain provisions allowing the use of Native American
languages, including allowing speakers of any Native American
language recognized as official by any American government,
including any Tribal government, to use equivalent proficiency
in speaking, reading, and writing in the Native American
language in lieu of proficiency in speaking, reading, and
writing in English.
(3) 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.
(4) Renewal.--At the end of a grant term, a State that
receives a grant under this section may reapply for a grant
under this section.
(5) Limitations.--A State shall not receive more than 1
grant under this section at any time.
(6) Return of unspent grant funds.--Each State that
receives a grant under this section shall return any unspent
grant funds not later than 6 months after the date on which the
term for the grant ends.
(b) Grant Program.--A State that desires a grant under this section
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 for the State Seal of Biliteracy in
both languages, which--
(A) shall include proficiency criteria for the 2
productive skills of speaking and writing; and
(B) may include proficiency criteria for the skills
of reading and listening;
(2) a detailed description of the State's plan--
(A) to ensure that English learners and former
English learners are included in the State Seal of
Biliteracy program;
(B) to ensure equitable access to the State Seal of
Biliteracy program for students with identified
disabilities, including vision and hearing impairments
and cognitive or learning disabilities, that preclude
demonstration of language proficiency in one of the
skills identified in paragraph (1);
(C) to ensure that--
(i) all languages, including Native
American languages and American Sign Language,
can be tested for the State Seal of Biliteracy
program; and
(ii) Native American language speakers and
learners are included in the State Seal of
Biliteracy program, including students at
tribally controlled schools and at schools
funded by the Bureau of Indian Education; and
(D) to reach elementary school and middle grades
students (including eligible students described in
subsection (c)(2), heritage language learners, and
English learners), their parents, and schools with
information regarding the State Seal of Biliteracy
program;
(3) an assurance that a student who meets the requirements
under paragraph (1) and subsection (c) receives--
(A) a permanent seal or other marker on the
student's secondary school diploma or its equivalent;
or
(B) documentation of proficiency on the student's
official academic transcript; and
(4) an assurance that a student is not charged a fee for
providing information under subsection (c)(1).
(c) Student Participation in a Seal of Biliteracy Program.--
(1) In general.--To participate in a Seal of Biliteracy
program, a student shall provide information to the State that
serves the student at such time, in such manner, and including
such information and assurances as the State may require,
including an assurance that the student has met the criteria
established by the State under subsection (b)(1).
(2) Student eligibility for participation.--A student who
gained proficiency in a second language outside of school may
apply to the State of the student's residence under paragraph
(1) to participate in a Seal of Biliteracy program.
(d) 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 that meets the
requirements of subsection (b);
(2) public outreach and education about the Seal of
Biliteracy program; and
(3) subgrants to local educational agencies for language
educator professional development, public outreach, and
subsidizing baseline and final Seal of Biliteracy testing for
low-income students.
(e) Report.--Not later than 18 months after receiving a grant under
this section, a State shall issue a report to the Secretary describing
the implementation of the Seal of Biliteracy program for which the
State received the grant.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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