BUTLER TWP — Jared Schneider, chairman of the Department of World Language at Butler Area School District, is looking to get the seal of approval on a new accolade for students.

Schneider delivered a presentation at the school board meeting on Monday, April 7, to highlight the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy. If the district moves to adopt it, it will become the 37th district in the state to do so.

“It’s about motivating and getting the students excited to become lifelong learners and be inquisitive within the culture and languages that we offer,” he said.

The seal is presented to students with an intermediate-high proficiency in English and one or more additional world languages by high school graduation. English as a second language students also are considered eligible for the seal.

To qualify, students must complete all requirements to receive their diploma, earn 80% or higher in all English language arts and world language classes and complete a “proficiency criteria” for both.

Options for proficiency criteria for English language arts include scoring proficient or advanced on the Keystone Literature Exam or, for English learners, earning a composite score of 4.5 or higher on the WIDA ACCESS exam.

For world language proficiency, students can either score a 4 or higher on the AP language and culture exam or present a portfolio that shows the student’s skills with the language, such as listening, speaking, reading and writing.

“It’s about providing students with a tool that they can use after they graduate that basically recognizes their biliteracy. So they’ll have a piece of paper to say ‘I’m at this level,’” Schneider said.

Schneider said the cost for the program would be for a seal embosser and the printed certificates.

He believes “one or two” students may be eligible for the first year of the program, if introduced for the 2025-26 school year. In the coming years, he said he expects that number to increase.

“My level twos are able to speak on levels that I’ve never seen before,” Schneider said.

Members of the school board said they are looking to have the item placed on the agenda for the next voting meeting.

The next regular school board meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. on May 12. A community engagement meeting at Connoquenessing Elementary School is set for April 28.