Biliterate Communication

List of 6 items.

• How Does Receiving a Seal Benefit Students?

  Having a Seal will help:
  

  • Employers and military recruiters identify those graduates who can use their biliteracy skills in a variety of professional contexts.
  • Bolster academic credentials for students applying to college and looking to place into higher level language courses.

• Who is Eligible?

  ALL students are eligible based on evidence of achieving the designated level of language proficiency in English plus one or more world languages within the 15-month testing window.
  
  

• Foreign Languages Tested

  The AAPPL Measure test is available in the following languages: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Arabic/Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Hindi, Italian, Japanese.
  
  ASL students must take the SLPI and obtain a score of 3 or higher in (Sign Language Proficiency Interview for American Sign Language).
  
  

  If the student intends to test for a language not listed above, they should contact Adriana McNally at amcnally@mvcds.org for additional information and approval. If there is no assessment listed for a specific world language that a student is trying to assess, the school will contact the Ohio Department of Education to help identify an appropriate evaluation for that language.

• Has the student met one of the English language arts proficiency requirements?

  a.  Earned a remediation-free score on the English and reading sections of the ACT (English-18, Reading-22) or SAT (English), Evidence-Based Reading and Writing-480; or
  
  b. Earned a score of proficient or higher on the 9-12 Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment
  (OELPA).

• Has the student satisfied one of the foreign language proficiency requirements?

  a. Passed an Advanced Placement (AP) foreign language examination with a score of 4 or higher; or
  
  b. Attained a score of Intermediate High or higher in comprehension, speaking, reading and writing the foreign language based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages ProficiencyGuidelines found at actfl.org/, using assessments approved by the Ohio Department of Education; or
  
  c. Attained a score equivalent to Intermediate High or higher on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines in interpersonal signing, presentational signing and demonstrating understanding of American Sign Language on an American Sign Language assessment approved by the Ohio Department of Education; or
  
  d. Attained a score equivalent to Intermediate High or higher on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines in interpretive reading and presentational writing on a classical language assessment approved by the Ohio Department of Education.

• Steps to Apply

  • Complete the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy Application of Intent - which can be found on this page, below this list, in the Upper School Office, or in the College Counselor’s Office at the beginning of the Junior or Senior year.
  • Review the approved assessments you intend to use to demonstrate proficiency and the qualifying scores.
  • Return the application to the Upper School Office.
  • Make sure you are registered to take the approved assessments in both English and world languages.
  • Remember that the testing window opens 15 months before the expected graduation date. Tests taken before this time will not qualify a student.