As this year's graduates walked down the aisle armed with Latin distinctions from valedictorian to summa or magna cum laude, tens of thousands of high school seniors also claimed an accolade dedicated to the languages they speak every day: the "seal of biliteracy," which honors students who have demonstrated proficiency in English and another language. Bilingualism and biliteracy make individual students more competitive in the college application process and job market. Along the way, dual-language immersion helps students become better learners and thinkers generally and can help close the achievement gap.
"I don't think you understand that this is the most important award in the Latino community," a mother told one of the leaders behind the California campaign for the seal. In that state, organizers say, "bilingual" was once a dirty word. To some, it still is. For many of those who speak their first sentences in another tongue, the language they grow up with is part of who they are. The seal of biliteracy tells them and the rest of us that is worth celebrating.
Editorial on 06/28/2017