Student Success Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Chairman, my amendment, the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching Act, would amend H.R. 5 to encourage and incentivize bilingual education for our students across the country.

Specifically, my amendment would establish a grant program at the Department of Education to provide resources for States to create or to expand State biliteracy seal programs to recognize high school seniors who achieve a high level of proficiency in writing, reading, and speaking in English and in a second language.

Students who speak more than one language have a competitive edge in the American job market. As businesses look to expand into overseas markets and serve a wider range of customers and as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the demand for students with valuable language skills is increasing.

It is not only the private sector that needs young people with language skills. The Federal Government also has a direct and compelling interest in ensuring that our young people become proficient in foreign languages. Our military, our diplomats, and our intelligence agencies are increasingly seeking to recruit young people with proficiency in a foreign language.

However, there are few State or national standards for bilingual certification for high school students, and many students who could qualify for the seal are not enrolled in AP or baccalaureate classes either because they cannot afford the cost of the test or their school does not offer advanced courses; whereas States that have or are in the process of implementing State seals do so free of charge for every student.

I must add that eight States have already approved a bilingual seal, and three more are considering it as we speak.

A biliteracy seal is a very special marker on a student's high school diploma. It serves as a certification by the State that the student is fluent and literate in a language other than English.

Under my amendment, these seals would be available to students who are proficient in any spoken language--Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish. My amendment also makes nonspoken languages, like American Sign Language and braille, also eligible.

To receive a seal, a high school senior must have a strong academic record in both English and a second language, and he must be on track to graduate. My amendment establishes a voluntary grant program which would not impose any new mandates on States.

It is also budget neutral. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it would not increase direct spending.

I urge Members to vote for my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Chairman, as chairwoman of the California Assembly Education Committee, I sponsored legislation in 2012 that established a State seal in California, the first of its kind in our country, and since that time I have seen firsthand how successful this program has been.

In 2014, over 24,000 high school seniors and 219 school districts across California participated in this program. They earned their seals for achievement in 40 different languages.

When I introduced this language in the 113th Congress, it was supported by many education and civil rights organizations, including the National Education Association, Centro Latino for Literacy, California Association for Bilingual Education, Families in Schools, California School Board Association, Californians Together, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and the Asian and Pacific Islanders California Action Network.

I have crafted the amendment to give States the flexibility to shape their own seal programs while ensuring the programs guarantee equal access for all students.

The BEST Act celebrates diversity and multiculturalism. It also recognizes that fluency in a second language helps students compete in an increasingly global marketplace. The seal also helps employers, colleges, and universities distinguish talented applicants with valuable skills.

If you support encouraging bilingualism, this is an amendment to support.

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