The Rondout Valley Central School District (RVCSD) this week announced that it had earned the Seal of Biliteracy Badge from the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages at the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

The school district was also awarded a “Bronze” milestone badge for introducing the Seal of Biliteracy program to students last year.

According to the announcement, the Seal of Biliteracy is an award that “recognizes students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages before their high school graduation.”

NYSED says the purpose of the program is to acknowledge the importance of being biliterate in today’s global society. It helps to highlight the hard work of students in this program, and encourages them to pursue language studies, including refining the use of their home language. Being formally recognized as part of the biliteracy program could also be helpful in college and job pursuits in the future.

The RVCSD noted two paths to earning the Seal of Biliteracy: students whose first language is English can learn a second language, students who are English learners and are “developing academic proficiency in their home language while mastering English.”

Those applying for the Seal must complete a “multifaceted project on a topic of interest.” The project is eventually presented to the RVCSD Seal of Biliteracy Committee, which includes Rondout Valley High School (RVHS) Principal Jessica Torok, Standards Area Chairperson Anne Kelly, RVHS guidance counselor Alison Klein, RVHS English teacher Robyn McDonough, RVHS world language teachers Patricia Abi-Hassan and Victoria Robertson, RVHS English as a second language teacher Rebecca Horwitz, and community member Jim Sullivan.

Students who successfully complete the application process and achieve the mark of distinction receive a seal on their diploma, a ribbon to wear at graduation, and a certificate.