HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4

ESTABLISHING DELAWARE CERTIFICATES OF MULTI-LITERACY TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE DELAWARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE ATTAINED HIGH LEVELS OF PROFICIENCY IN ONE OR MORE WORLD LANGUAGES IN ADDITION TO ENGLISH.

WHEREAS, Delaware recognizes that proficiency in world languages is crucial for the state to maintain and strengthen its domestic economy and that its graduates who have advanced level language skills have an economic edge in the multilingual and multicultural workforce of the 21 ^st century; and

WHEREAS, Governor Markell’s 2011 World Language Expansion Initiative implemented an aggressive world language education plan to prepare generations of Delawareans with the language skills to compete in an ever-changing global economy at home and around the world; and

WHEREAS, developing literacy in two or more languages represents a challenging academic standard for every Delaware student; and

WHEREAS, developing and maintaining proficiency in a child’s native language is crucial for Delaware’s more than 10,000 English Learners to establish a firm foundation for academic success; and

WHEREAS, bilingualism builds trust and understanding across languages and culture groups in Delaware, across the nation, and around the world; and

WHEREAS, the demand continues to increase for employees to have high levels of multi-language proficiency in low, medium and high-skilled jobs and careers locally, regionally and globally;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the 149 ^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the Governor, that a Delaware Certificate of Multi-literacy be established to recognize a high school student who has attained a high level of proficiency in one or more world languages in addition to English. The Delaware Certificate of Multi-literacy shall be voluntary and awarded to high school students who meet the criteria established by the Delaware Department of Education. The certificate shall carry an official seal and will be provided for students beginning in the 2017-18 school year. The Department of Education will communicate the criteria and the guidance on the process to award the certificates to the school districts and charter schools by August 30, 2017.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution requires a Delaware Certificate of Multi-literacy be established. The criteria for such certificate is to be developed by the Department of Education no later than August 30, 2017.