(A) The state board of education shall establish the state seal of biliteracy, which may be attached or affixed to the high school transcript of a student enrolled in a public or chartered nonpublic school. The state seal of biliteracy shall demonstrate the attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduate of a public or chartered nonpublic high school in one or more languages in addition to English, sufficient for meaningful use in college and a career. The purpose of the state seal of biliteracy shall be to:

(1) Encourage students to study languages;

(2) Certify the attainment of biliteracy;

(3) Provide employers with a method of identifying individuals with language and biliteracy skills;

(4) Provide institutions of higher education with an additional method to recognize applicants for admission;

(5) Prepare students with twenty-first century skills;

(6) Recognize the value of foreign language and native language instruction in public schools; and

(7) Strengthen inter-group relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community.

(B)

(1) A school district, community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, college-preparatory boarding school established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code, or chartered nonpublic school may attach or affix the state seal of biliteracy to the transcript of a student enrolled in the school who meets the requirements prescribed under division (C)(1) of this section. A district or school shall not be required to attach or affix the state seal of biliteracy on the transcript of a student enrolled in the school.

(2) Each school district, community school, STEM school, college-preparatory boarding school, and chartered nonpublic school shall maintain appropriate records to identify students who have completed the requirements for earning a state seal of biliteracy as prescribed under division (C) (1) of this section, and if the district or school has a policy of attaching or affixing the state seal of biliteracy to student transcripts, the district or school shall make the appropriate designation on the transcript of a student who completes the requirements.

(C) The state board of education shall do the following:

(1) Establish the requirements and criteria for earning a state seal of biliteracy, including assessments of foreign language and English proficiency.

(2) Direct the department of education to prepare and deliver to participating school districts, community schools, STEM schools, college-preparatory boarding schools, and chartered nonpublic schools an appropriate mechanism for assigning a state seal of biliteracy on a student's transcript indicating that the student has been assigned the seal;

(3) Direct the department to provide any other information the state board considers necessary for school districts, community schools, STEM schools, college-preparatory boarding schools, and chartered nonpublic schools to participate in the assigning of a state seal of biliteracy;

(4) Adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement the provisions of this section.

(D) A student shall not be charged a fee to be assigned a state seal of biliteracy on their transcript. A student may be required to pay a fee to demonstrate proficiency in a language, including the cost of a standardized test to determine proficiency in a language.

(E) As used in this section, "foreign language" refers to any language other than English, including modern languages, Latin, American sign language, native American languages, and native languages.

Added by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 3, §1, eff. 3/16/2017.