Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is helping to prepare students for the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Program by hosting upcoming student and parent/guardian information sessions, one held in September, October and November. The topics will cover reading strategies, writing strategies, and speaking and listening strategies. The program is geared toward high school students with CCPS paying the cost of the test for each qualifying graduating senior who takes it.

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. A student can receive the Seal if he or she can demonstrate full proficiency in language learning as measured by rigorous proficiency assessments across a range of language skills. Eligible languages include Spanish, French, Latin, German and American Sign Language (ASL). Languages students speak or study outside of school are also eligible. In recent years, students have earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Tigrinya, Urdu, Eastern Punjabi, Spanish, French and Haitian Creole.

Students who are interested in the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Program should plan to attend the online information events through Zoom. The dates, times and Zoom details for the information sessions are below.

Information session #1:
Informational/reading strategies, Sept. 18, 6 to 7 p.m. Use the Zoom link to join the meeting or join using the meeting ID: 815 8959 1866 and the passcode: 829231.

Informational session #2:
Informational/writing strategies, Oct. 23, 6 to 7 p.m. Use the Zoom link to join the meeting or join using the meeting ID852 3588 8029 and the passcode: 347693.

Informational session #3:
Informational/speaking and listening strategies, Nov. 13, 6 to 7 p.m. Use the Zoom link to join the meeting or join using the meeting ID: 817 8985 4008 and the passcode: 651964.

Students can apply for the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy program before Jan. 24.

The Seal of Biliteracy Test Logistics and Power Up for students is Feb. 5. This session is exclusive to students who are preparing to take the Seal of Biliteracy test. Graduating seniors who have signed up via the Seal of Biliteracy application and who have been confirmed by CCPS staff in the world languages department as eligible to take the test will receive the Power Up Zoom session link.

For more details about the program, contact the student’s world language teacher, school counselor or Linda McLaughlin, content specialist for world languages, at lmclaughlin@ccboe.com.  

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.  CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).