Fairfield, CA - The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) hosted its annual English Proficiency and State Seal of Biliteracy Celebration last Thursday, May 2nd, to honor and recognize students who have achieved remarkable milestones in language proficiency. The event took place at the Fairfield High School Gym, where a special ceremony celebrated students who scored Level 4, the highest level on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), and high school seniors who earned the prestigious State Seal of Biliteracy.
The English Proficiency Celebration is a significant event that acknowledges students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in the English Language Development (ELD) Standards. These students have been redesignated as "Fluent English Proficient" and have exited the English Learner program in the past year. This year, the inclusion of State Seal of Biliteracy honorees expanded the event to celebrate a broader range of achievements.
The State Seal of Biliteracy, awarded by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, acknowledges high school seniors who demonstrate proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English. These students will receive a special gold-embossed seal on their high school diplomas, a notable distinction that reflects their multilingual skills.
Christine Harrison, Director of English Learners and Instructional Support, expressed pride in the accomplishments of the FSUSD students and emphasized the importance of the awards: "We are exceptionally proud of the FSUSD students who have graduated out of the English Learner program and who have earned the State Seal of Biliteracy as part of their high school diplomas this year. We hope this celebration will inspire and motivate younger students to continue developing their language skills."
The English Proficiency and State Seal of Biliteracy Celebration is an event that underscores the importance of language proficiency and the contributions of multilingual individuals to our communities, workforce, and state economy. This year's ceremony highlights the hard work of FSUSD students and educators and serves as an inspiration for continued excellence in language learning.