Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does ASL count? Seems like it would be hard to administer given no AP exam currently exists.

Yes. They need to score 3+ on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview

https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DCAA/World-Languages/Biliteracy/MSDEACTFLAlignedAssessments.pdf

Thanks so much! But $150! Yikes. I wonder how easily a kid could pass after two or three years of high school ASL? Anyone know?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can either score 4+ in any AP non-English language, or pass the annual evaluation test.

If they take the AP class senior year and won't have the AP score result until after graduation, then does that mean they wouldn't get the seal of biliteracy at graduation?

Yes, if that's the only assessment they would take. There is also the Avant Assessment which is offered at most schools too, and the results come very quickly. Check with your school's world languages department head (resource teacher).

Make sure that your school knows about the MD seal of bilitracy and that they will do the paperwork. I hope the parents are doing their due diligence and sending emails to the counselor to verify that these kinds of honors will be made available for their students. So much upheavel in staffing has happened in MCPS that there are many teachers and counselors who have no idea of what paperwork needs to happen for these things.

My kid got it by getting a 4 on Spanish AP in 10th grade. Did it help? Who knows. It is not as if college application process is fully transparent.

My kid is Asian American male. All the honors and accolades, his grades, SAT, EC activities - must have made a cumulative impression on the adcom, as he ended up where he wanted to be, doing what he wanted to do.

What should the seal mean to you? Just an record and recognition that your kid is high achieving in HS FL. This is not a subjective honor. Your kid earned it and that is the value of this award.