The California Seal of Biliteracy is a sign of the changing times: There was no such honor when Natomas Unified was created nearly 25 years ago, but now the district takes great pride in the rapidly rising number of students who qualify for the seal.
Eighty-four students earned the award this year — 50 from Inderkum High, 31 from Natomas High, and three from Discovery High. They qualified by demonstrating competency in English and one of four other languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese or Tagalog. Six students qualified in two world languages.
Seal of Biliteracy winners will be honored Wednesday (April 27) by NUSD’s Board of Trustees, consistent with NUSD’s Core Belief that, “Our diversity is a strength.” Upon graduating from high school, recipients will receive a medal and a gold seal on their diploma.
The number of local Seal of Biliteracy winners has soared since the state launched the recognition program several years ago. Thirty-six NUSD students earned the honor in 2013-14, then 51 the following year, now 84 – a 65 percent increase in one year.
Tat’tiyana Taylor, 18, said she hopes that learning to speak French will benefit her throughout her life. She hopes to travel to other countries, do business in other countries, and to become a criminal justice lawyer someday — perhaps studying international law.
Tiffany Barba Soto said that speaking Spanish could be a big asset in an increasingly diverse, 21st century marketplace. Now that she knows Spanish and English, she wants to learn Mandarin Chinese, she said.
Taylor Vera took Spanish at Inderkum primarily for family reasons.
“My family speaks Spanish and I didn’t speak it at the time, so it just really helps me communicate with my family that doesn’t speak any English,” she said.
The state law creating the Seal of Biliteracy took effect in 2012. Its purpose was to affirm the value of diversity, honor multiple cultures, identify students with bilingual skills, promote world language instruction, and to spotlight biliteracy as a key skill in competing for 21st century jobs and careers.
