To Seal or Not to Seal? The Seal of Biliteracy: A Review of Literature, Access, and the Massachusetts Context
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| Title: | To Seal or Not to Seal? The Seal of Biliteracy: A Review of Literature, Access, and the Massachusetts Context |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Emily W. Loughlin |
| Source: | NECTFL Review. 2025 (95):69-88. |
| Availability: | Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. 2400 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214. e-mail: info@nectfl.org; Web site: https://www.nectfl.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 20 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Information Analyses |
| Education Level: | High Schools Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Bilingualism, High School Seniors, Awards, Public Schools, Language Proficiency, Program Implementation, Program Attitudes, Equal Education, Educational Improvement |
| Geographic Terms: | Massachusetts |
| ISSN: | 2164-5965 |
| Abstract: | Bilingual education has been a political topic in the U.S. for years but lacks concrete legislation about compulsory learning to promote biliteracy and bilingualism. The Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL) is an optional award for public high school seniors demonstrating mastery in English and an additional language. Many changes must be made to ensure that all schools are able to offer this award to graduating seniors. Schools lacking programming must develop sequential language courses to meet SoBL requirements, involving specialized teacher education and curriculum adjustments, which require approval. Early recruitment of students ensures continued language study through graduation. However, challenges remain related to assessments and assessors as well as funds for test-taking and administrative tasks. This literature review, originally part of a dissertation study explains what the SoBL is, the importance of earning and offering it, as well as the benefits for college and career readiness for students. Included are perspectives from students and administrators, both positive and negative, about earning the SoBL and how, if it all, it can affect a student's future. Ultimately, while the SoBL can promote multilingualism and linguistic pride, its successful implementation demands strategic planning, resource allocation, and broad stakeholder involvement. [Note: The page range (69-87) shown on the front page of the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range is 69-88.] |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1486723 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1486723 Name: ERIC Full Text Category: fullText Text: Full Text from ERIC |
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| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: EJ1486723 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: To Seal or Not to Seal? The Seal of Biliteracy: A Review of Literature, Access, and the Massachusetts Context – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emily+W%2E+Loughlin%22">Emily W. Loughlin</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22NECTFL+Review%22"><i>NECTFL Review</i></searchLink>. 2025 (95):69-88. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. 2400 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214. e-mail: info@nectfl.org; Web site: https://www.nectfl.org – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 20 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bilingualism%22">Bilingualism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Seniors%22">High School Seniors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Awards%22">Awards</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Schools%22">Public Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Implementation%22">Program Implementation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Attitudes%22">Program Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equal+Education%22">Equal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Improvement%22">Educational Improvement</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Massachusetts%22">Massachusetts</searchLink> – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 2164-5965 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Bilingual education has been a political topic in the U.S. for years but lacks concrete legislation about compulsory learning to promote biliteracy and bilingualism. The Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL) is an optional award for public high school seniors demonstrating mastery in English and an additional language. Many changes must be made to ensure that all schools are able to offer this award to graduating seniors. Schools lacking programming must develop sequential language courses to meet SoBL requirements, involving specialized teacher education and curriculum adjustments, which require approval. Early recruitment of students ensures continued language study through graduation. However, challenges remain related to assessments and assessors as well as funds for test-taking and administrative tasks. This literature review, originally part of a dissertation study explains what the SoBL is, the importance of earning and offering it, as well as the benefits for college and career readiness for students. Included are perspectives from students and administrators, both positive and negative, about earning the SoBL and how, if it all, it can affect a student's future. Ultimately, while the SoBL can promote multilingualism and linguistic pride, its successful implementation demands strategic planning, resource allocation, and broad stakeholder involvement. [Note: The page range (69-87) shown on the front page of the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range is 69-88.] – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1486723 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1486723 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 20 StartPage: 69 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Bilingualism Type: general – SubjectFull: High School Seniors Type: general – SubjectFull: Awards Type: general – SubjectFull: Public Schools Type: general – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency Type: general – SubjectFull: Program Implementation Type: general – SubjectFull: Program Attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: Equal Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational Improvement Type: general – SubjectFull: Massachusetts Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: To Seal or Not to Seal? The Seal of Biliteracy: A Review of Literature, Access, and the Massachusetts Context Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Emily W. Loughlin IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 2164-5965 Numbering: – Type: issue Value: 95 Titles: – TitleFull: NECTFL Review Type: main |
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