Francis HowellHigh School

During a recent awards ceremony at FHC, more than 70 FHSD students were presented with the Missouri “Seal of Biliteracy” that recognizes proficiency in two languages. The Seal promotes active participation in a global society and economy by recognizing and celebrating the acquisition of biliteracy skills and sociocultural awareness.

Mastery of two or more languages makes important contributions to a student's cognitive development, understanding of diverse cultures, and economic opportunities. These skills include the ability to communicate with clients, colleagues, and associates who speak a language other than English.

The Seal of Biliteracy was presented to seniors who complete the requirements for a high school diploma and who meet all of the following requirements:

• An overall GPA of 3.0 in English Language Arts (ELA) for the Seal of Biliteracy or an overall GPA of 3.5 in ELA for the Distinguished Seal of Biliteracy
• A Score of Proficient or Advanced in ELA on a District-approved standardized assessment
• A Score of Proficient or Advanced on an assessment aligned with the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency guidelines
• A demonstration of sociocultural competence as it relates to English and a language other than English

Congratulations to the following bilingual FHSD students:

Through the establishment of this Seal of Biliteracy, the District seeks to encourage pupils to develop biliteracy skills, provide employers with a method of identifying people with these language skills, promote foreign language instruction in our schools, and recognize and honor our rich and diverse language heritage.