U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) to introduce the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching (BEST) Act, legislation that would provide federal grants to states to create Seal of Biliteracy programs that encourage and recognize high school students who achieve proficiency in at least two languages.
“In New Mexico, we value our diversity as one of our greatest strengths. Bilingualism is baked into our state’s constitution,” Heinrich said. “We were the first state in the nation to fund bilingual education and one of the first to adopt a seal of biliteracy. I am cosponsoring the federal Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching Act because in New Mexico, we know that our multilingualism keeps students grounded in the traditions of their home communities while simultaneously preparing them for career success in a global economy.”
“In today’s interconnected world, learning a second language not only helps students perform better in school, but also improves problem-solving skills and chances at professional success,” Schatz said. “In Hawai’i, students have the unique opportunity to earn a Seal of Biliteracy for fluency in the Hawaiian language. Our bill will improve and expand this important program nationwide so that every student can be recognized for learning a second language.”
The Senate bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
New Mexico has historically been at the forefront of bilingual education with the creation of a bilingual teaching force written into its state constitution in 1912, the nation’s first funded bilingual education act, and as one of the first states in the nation to pass a seal of bilingualism/biliteracy. New Mexico’s commitment to its diverse heritage extends to the state Indian Education Act and Hispanic Education Act, both of which call explicitly for investment in the distinct linguistic and cultural assets of the state’s students.
Bilingualism has been proven to improve academic achievement and graduation rates, as well as future employability and earning potential. In addition to world languages, New Mexico, Hawai‘i, Utah, Arizona, and Washington offer Native American students the opportunity to earn a Seal of Bilingualism or Biliteracy for dual-proficiency in English and an indigenous language.
The BEST Act would offer states funding to establish a new program or expand and improve an already existing program. Eligible high school seniors receive a Seal on their transcripts upon graduating to indicate proficiency in two or more languages, enabling colleges and prospective employers to easily identify the valuable expertise bilingual students bring to both higher education and the workplace.
The BEST Act is supported by Dual Language Education of New Mexico, the New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education, the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS), National Education Association, California Language Teachers’ Association, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, Californians Together, and the National Association for Bilingual Education.
“The New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education (NMABE) expresses its firm endorsement of the proposed Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching Act (BEST) that assists states in creating Seal of Biliteracy programs that inspire and acknowledge high students’ bilingualism/multilingualism,” said Dr. Elisabeth Valenzuela, Executive Director of the New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education. “Moreover, NMABE celebrates the federal government’s commitment and investment to prepare students with the cultural and linguistic skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. NMABE stands with Senator Heinrich’s co-sponsorship of the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching Act (BEST).’
“Knowing the many cognitive, academic, social, and economic benefits associated with becoming bilingual, the BEST Act will serve to expand student access to quality bilingual and dual language programs,” said Michael Rodríguez, Executive Director of Dual Language Education of New Mexico. “For New Mexico, this Act provides an impetus to continue examining our State Seal of Bilingualism-Biliteracy and ensure that we elevate and honor the many languages and cultures that have shaped the identity of our state.”
“After a long history of waves of policies and laws to purposefully eradicate Indigenous languages and cultures, the resilience and perseverance of generations of Indigenous peoples resistance compelled the United States Congress to shift its policy to commit to the preservation, protection and maintenance of Indigenous languages with the enactment of the Native American Languages Act in 1990,” said Regis Pecos, Co-Director of the Leadership Institute at Santa Fe Indian School and former governor of Cochiti Pueblo. “This effort is the reflection of one of the finer moments in American history that we can celebrate Indigenous languages as central to our collective spirit as a Nation. We are grateful to Senator Heinrich for his leadership to demonstrate that we as a Nation will never return to those dark chapters in our history. This is a gift to all future generations of our children.”
“As a bilingual seal recipient myself and the youngest school board member ever elected in my district, I understand the importance of bilingual programs and have first-hand experience on how beneficial the bilingual seal is for students, which is why I am in complete support of Sen. Heinrich’s BEST bill,” said Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) board member Janelle Astorga-Ramos. “APS has led the nation on bilingual education efforts and not only is that because we believe in learning a second language, but because we understand the benefits of embracing the identity of being a dual language speaker. Being able to academically advance in different languages without having to give up part of who you are to assimilate into a new world is powerful and provides students like myself the courage to be unapologetically proud of all languages we speak at home, work and school.”
“The revised BEST Act is a statement by its sponsors, Congresswoman Julia Brownley and Senator Brian Schatz, that multilingualism is an asset to be recognized for students and should be available equitably to all learners, especially English language learners and heritage learners,” said Amanda Seewald, Executive Director of the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS). “This bill’s emphasis on implementing Seal of Biliteracy programs broadly in school districts across the nation will help students acquire the skills they need for college, career, and life, and uplift the languages that are central to identity for so many. JNCL-NCLIS has been honored to work on this legislation with such dedicated legislators and look forward to its passage.”
The full text of the bill is available here.
