Dedham High School Honored with Seal of Biliteracy Star Award
Dedham High School was honored with a Seal of Biliteracy Star Award by the MA Department for Elementary and Secondary Education during a Multilingual Leaders Network event held on October 26th.
The Star Award recognizes the work Dedham High School has done to expand opportunities for students in multilingual education and enabling at least 10% of DHS graduates to earn the Seal during the 2024-25 school year. From the Class of 2025, twenty-three Dedham High graduates earned the Seal of Biliteracy on their diplomas, six of those a Seal with Distinction.
The award is an important milestone that celebrates a continued focus on expanding student opportunities and achievements as Global Citizens, as noted in the District’s Portrait of a Learner. In 2020, Dedham Public Schools joined 150 districts around Massachusetts in awarding a State Seal of Biliteracy distinction on Dedham High School diplomas, with 13 students earning the Seal. The Seal is awarded to students who demonstrate proficiency in two languages; English and one other language. Students are awarded the Seal of Biliteracy after completing a four-part exam to measure interpretive listening, interpretive reading, interpersonal speaking, and presentational writing.
As noted by the Department of Education, the vision for the Seal of Biliteracy program, first introduced by the state in 2018, is “to help students recognize the value of their academic success and see the tangible benefits of being bilingual.” The inclusion of the Seal on a student transcript or diploma provides a validated statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admissions to recognize people with biliteracy skills.
Congratulations to the Dedham school community, including our World Language, English and English Learner educators, for their commitment to ensuring our students have the opportunity for success in any language and their support for students to earn this distinction on their diploma.