Members of the Roswell Independent School District have approved a policy that would allow students to earn a special seal on their high school diploma for completing years of language studies.
Board members voted 5 to 0 to approve both items related to this board policy for biliteracy and bilingual achievement.
The seal would recognize high school graduates who have ”attained functional proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing skills in one or more languages as well as proficiency in English,” according to the staff report.
It would be on the student’s high school diploma or transcripts and indicate the student has attained those “needed and important skills.”
The policy also provides a path to being awarded the seal, which would begin while a student is still in middle school. Specifically, an eighth-grader would need to be enrolled in a Spanish class, and then complete assessment testing.
Once in high school, this pattern continues with earning at least a “C” in all of their foreign language courses and meeting requirements on specific assessments.
An alternate path will be available in some instances that would require the student to demonstrate they can read, write, speak and listen in both languages, but their skills would be highlighted by a portfolio presentation.
The U.S. Department of Education, along with the Biden-Harris Administration, announced an initiative titled “Being Bilingual is a Superpower.” It states that bilingualism and biliteracy are “an educational and economic imperative for student success, global competitiveness, and engagement.”
The announcement from the federal government came only days after members of the RISD board had decided to consider the local biliteracy seal as a policy.
“Knowing more than one language, acquiring a new language through school, or learning new languages later in life can provide tangible academic, cognitive, economic and sociocultural advantages,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
Both the student and parent would be asked to sign paperwork if the student intends to pursue this study program.
RISD Student Conduct policy
Board members approved a change in the board’s Student Conduct policy, J-2300.
This change will affect students at school, traveling to and from school, attending school functions, or in instances described as impacting “school order.”
The addition is of a new sentence: “Egregious acts of assault/battery may result in disciplinary measures up to and including long-term suspension.”
An array of improper behaviors listed in the policy include “physical abuse of or threat of harm to any person on district-owned or controlled property or at district-sponsored or supervised functions.”
Along with carrying or possessing a weapon on school grounds, other behaviors considered improper by this policy are related to the use, possession, distribution, or sale of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or “other illegal contraband” as well as “conduct or speech that violates commonly accepted standards of the district and that, under the circumstances, has no redeeming social value.”
Morales marks end of board service
Board President Hope Morales received a plaque Monday night recognizing her service as an RISD board member and leader.
She thanked Supt. Brian Luck, other board members and staff throughout the district for their efforts, and described her time on the board as “one of the most challenging things I’ve ever participated in.”
She also noted that she did her best “to improve the education system.”
Morales also said that she hoped RISD “will become one of the best districts in the state.”
2024 is on its way
The first public meeting of the RISD board next year will be held on Jan. 16. A swearing-in ceremony for members chosen in the Nov. 7 election will be at 5:30 p.m. The regular board meeting will start at 6 p.m.
Morales said she would likely be in the audience during some future board meetings.
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