The State of Hawai’i Board of Education is currently considering a policy to establish a Seal of Biliteracy for students in DOE schools. The Roadmap has developed a Fact Sheet (http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/languageroadmap/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Roadmap-fact-sheet-for-Hawaii-Seal-of-Biliteracy_June-5-2015.pdf (Roadmap fact sheet for Hawai’i Seal of Biliteracy (June 5, 2015)) to address frequently asked questions about the Seal of Biliteracy program, who is supporting the initiative in Hawai’i, the work involved in establishing the program in Hawai’i, and much more.

The Board of Education’s Student Achievement Committee (SAC) met to consider the Seal of Biliteracy policy during its June 2, 2015 (Tuesday) meeting. Board members held a lively and engaged discussion of the draft policy, and the outcome was that a clearer and more strongly worded draft that was adopted for further action. In their discussion, Board members indicated that the language reflects the will of the Board to establish a Seal for the state. A motion to move the policy out of committee for a vote by the full Board after a period of consultation (to allow for DOE administrators and Complex Area Superintendents to review the new changes) was also adopted. Each of these votes was unanimously supported by all Board members in attendance.

Please share this update with your constituencies, colleagues, friends, and others. You should also feel free to communicate your support and appreciation to the members of the BOE who have worked hard at ensuring that an effective policy is drafted and adopted. The past several months have brought measured and meaningful progress. Your support and testimony has been a critical component in this progress. We hope that you will continue to remain actively engaged with this effort as we strive to become the next state to adopt a Seal of Biliteracy.