Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 25, 2025 Malden High School students have opportunity to earn Seal of Biliteracy Mass. Dept. of Education offers assessment for participating students on May 8-9; students can receive State Seal for proficiency in English and any other world language By Steve Freker M alden High School students who can demonstrate proficiency in two languages are eligible to earn the prestigious Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy. Students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 are eligible and the school is administering the Mass. Department of Education-sponsored Avant STAMP assessment at MHS on Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9. All tests will be free to MHS students. In a recent message to Malden High School parents and caregivers, MHS Principal Chris Mastrangelo shared information about the achievement available to students. “The Seal of Biliteracy is for City Clerk’s Office 215 Pleasant Streets, Room 220 Malden, Massachusetts 02148 Malden High School students and those statewide who choose to participate are eligible to earn the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy if they meet the standards of proficiency in English and a second world language. (Courtesy Mass. DOE) any student who demonstrates proficiency in English and any City of Malden Massachusetts other language, whether they speak the non-English language at home or learned it at school or in the community,” Mastrangelo said. “MHS will be running this program with our 10th, 11th and 12th graders, in the languages we currently offer at MHS, along with other widely-spoken languages in our city. According to information supplied by the Mass. Dept of Education (DOE), the State Seal of Biliteracy aims to: (a) Encourage students to study and master languages; (b) Certify attainment of biliteracy skills; (c) Recognize the value of language diversity; (d) Provide employers with a Carol Ann T. Desiderio, City Clerk cdesiderio@cityofmalden.org Phone 781-397-7116 www.cityofmalden.org MALDEN CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Malden City Council will hold a public hearing in the Herbert L. Jackson Council Chamber, Room 106 on the first floor of Malden City Hall, located at 215 Pleasant Street at 7:05 PM on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, regarding a Home Rule Petition process to repeal sections of the Malden City Charter, as listed below. Section 16 Fire Commissioner and Fire Department Section 20 Supt. of Public Works, City Engineer, Public Works Commission Section 21 Supt. of Public Works, City Engineer, Public Works Commission Section 23A Police Commissioner and Police Department Section 23C Stadium & Athletic Field Commission Section 23D Traffic Commission Section 23F Plumbing Inspector Section 23G Code Enforcement Inspector Section 32 Board of Health If passed, these repealed sections from the Charter will be incorporated within the following chapters of the City’s ordinances. MCC 2.12 Officers, Employees, and Departments MCC 2.16 Board, Commissions, and Committee MCC 9.16 Rental Units; Inspection Required MCC 11 Public Works Hard copy of the proposed Home Rule Petition containing the prospective deletions from the Charter is available for public viewing at the City Clerk’s Office and is posted online at the following link: https://www.cityofmalden.org/197/City-Charter To review the City Ordinances, please visit: https://www.cityofmalden.org/571/ City-Ordinances By: Carol Ann T. Desiderio City Clerk April 11, 18, 25, 2025 method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills; (e) Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of high-level skills in languages; (f) Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society; and (g) Strengthen intergroup communication and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community. The State Seal of Biliteracy takes the form of a seal that appears on the transcript or diploma of the graduating senior and is a statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admissions. The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy was established in the LOOK Act of 2017. Massachusetts joined 36 states and the District of Columbia in offering the award. The Seal was first created in 2008 by educational leaders in California. Since its adoption by Massachusetts in 2019, DOE reports, over 13,000 students have earned the award, including 3,816 in the year 2024 alone. Additionally, public and private institutions of higher learning in Massachusetts provide credits for prior learning and/ or advanced course placement for students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy. These schools include: • Bridgewater State University • Bunker Hill Community College • Cape Cod Community College • Massachusetts Bay Community College • Middlesex Community College • Mount Wachusett Community College • North Shore Community College • Northern Essex Community College • Quinsigamond Community College • Salem State University • University of Massachusetts Amherst • University of Massachusetts Dartmouth • Worcester State University The Malden High Principal explained that in order to earn the Chris Mastrangelo Malden High Principal Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy, students in the Classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027 must: —Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by satisfying one of the following: 1. Earn a score of 472 on the ELA Next-Gen MCAS or 2. Earn a score of 455 or higher on the Grade 10 ELA Next-Gen MCAS and complete an Educational Proficiency Plan — Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a world language through one of the following: 1. Attaining a minimum score equivalent to Intermediate-High level of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines on a state approved assessment or 2. For languages that do not have readily available assessments, completing a portfolio demonstrating Intermediate-High proficiency in speaking, writing, reading and listening. “We look forward to honoring the language expertise and diversity in our district through this initiative,” Mastrangelo said, noting that many Malden High students have taken advantage of this opportunity and earned the State Seal of Biliteracy in the past. Anyone with questions on the program is encouraged to please contact Erin Craven, Director of School Counseling & Testing for the Malden Public Schools district (ecraven@maldenps.org), Heather Castonguay (hcastonguay@ maldenps.org) or Diane Brookes, World Languages Teacher Leader (dbrookes@maldenps.org).
9 Publizr Home