Agawam School Committee hears presentation on World Language Seal of Biliteracy

May 18, 2021 | Noelia Ortiz
nortiz@thereminder.com

The Agawam School Committee met on May 11 where Agawam High School language teacher Nancy Kundl highlighted the World language Seal of Biliteracy.
Screen capture from Agawam Media

AGAWAM – The Agawam School Committee met May 11 where Agawam High School language teacher Nancy Kundl highlighted the World Language Seal of Biliteracy.

The World Language Seal of Biliteracy is a graduation award bestowed upon students who have demonstrated a certain degree of proficiency in more than one language upon graduation. It is given by any school, district or state.

It was organized in California in 2008 and adopted as a graduation award in 2011. In 2017, Massachusetts also adopted the award. Agawam High School worked on granting the award shortly after that. In 2020, they exceeded in doing so.

The criteria include earning a minimum of 472 in MCAS and scoring intermediate high level of the ACTFL in world language or advanced low. To earn the seal with distinction, students must score advanced low in all categories tested and a minimum of 501 in the next generation English literature MCAS.

Registration for the AAPPL language test has been funded by the district through Title IV federal funding.

The skills that are evaluated are reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

In 2020, nine students were awarded the seal in Agawam High School. Most students demonstrated proficiency in the intermediate level and some trending towards advanced Kundl stated.

They recognize the students at graduation by having a seal on the diploma. They receive a yellow and blue cord matching the state seal colors and a notation in the graduation program including language and any additional distinctions.

One benefit is providing a skill that is attractive to future employers and college admission offices.

"This is a wonderful way to showcase the work being done in the World Language Department. It’s really important because the students are going out in the world to be global innovators to be working with global companies going into this market where having this distinction in their diploma as they proceed is very valuable, it opens doors they don’t even realize,” School Committee member Wendy Rua said.  

During their scheduled report, Executive Director Roland Joyal gave a Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative (LPVEC) update.

Joyal was Superintendent Sheila Hoffman’s former principal and mentor in leadership and administration. He started as a teacher and vice principal at Putnam Roger L. Vocational High School then went to Chicopee High School where he was principal for 18 years. He then went on to become assistant superintendent there for four years and is now working at the collaborative.

The collaborative is made up of seven districts in the area, Agawam being one. They offer many programs, most known for career tech. There are currently 11 career technical areas. They also offer special educational programs, Medicaid reimbursement, and energy management.

The budget of the collaborative is roughly $25 million according to Joyal, half being transportation.

There are about 400 employees, with 300 being in transportation. They currently have well over 200 buses.

The career technical education students participate in SkillsUSA also known as The Vocational Industrial Clubs of America Inc. (VICA) which is a competition for students in their shop areas and classes. It was founded by students and teachers who were serious about their professions and saw the need for more training in the areas of leadership to complement their chosen vocation.

Two students from Agawam received gold medals and two bronze medals. Students with gold medals go on to nationals.

In March, there were nine students that received the student of the month through various shops.

The committee thanked Joyal for his hard work and dedication serving his first year throughout the pandemic.

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