Stanislaus County lauds 221 students with Seal of Multilingual Proficiency

More than 200 students will be recognized for their fluency and literacy skills in a foreign language as well as English proficiency at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Gallo Center for the Arts in downtown Modesto.

Since 2010, the Stanislaus County Office of Education and local school districts have certified high school juniors and seniors for the Seal of Multilingual Proficiency. SCOE was the first county office of education in the nation to adopt the program.

This year, 221 students will be recognized for earning the seal and can cite that achievement for college admission, scholarship applications and job résumés.

The largest number of students chose Spanish as their world language of fluency. Also receiving recognition are students fluent in Arabic, Farsi (Persian), Assyrian, Russian, Urdu (spoken in Pakistan), Ukrainian, Italian and Japanese.

To qualify for the seal, students must complete a rigorous process demonstrating proficiency in English and their world language, said Debra Boggs, who oversees the program at SCOE.

First, they submit a portfolio of work. After screening, community members and educators interview the students in both languages and the students must produce an on-demand writing sample in the target language.

“Being proficient in multiple languages enhances a student’s education and value in the marketplace,” said Superintendent of Schools Tom Changnon. “Our economy is tied to that of other nations, and Californians who can participate across international borders bring strength and potential to this state’s global enterprises.”

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Stanislaus County lauds 221 students with Seal of Multilingual Proficiency."