Biliteracy Is 'Skyrocketing' Among Newark Public School Students, District Says

Press release from the Newark Board of Education:

NEWARK, N.J. – The skyrocketing number of Newark Public Schools students proficient in at least two languages was cause for a special celebration on Tuesday evening hosted by the district’s Office of Bilingual, English as a Second Language and World Languages.

The event honored 448 students who earned the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy—an achievement that requires demonstrating the ability to read, write, speak, and understand a language other than English. This year’s total marks a 75% increase over last year’s 255 recipients.

Eleven of the students who earned the seal showed they had proficiency in two languages other than English. They were:

• Yasmin De Oliveira
• Bianca Ferreira
• Angelina Gonzalez
• Victor Mendes
• Daniel Novo
• Karen Otavalo
• Juliana Reyes Castro
• Giovanna Yenke
• Ryan Costa
• Juan Molina
• Kelvin De Sa Tavares

“We are incredibly proud of the 448 students who earned the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy this year,” said Superintendent León. “Their achievement not only reflects academic excellence, but also the cultural richness of our school community. Our students are embracing the power of language as a bridge to greater opportunity, both in college and in their careers.”

“Earning the Seal of Biliteracy is no small feat, and the fact that so many of our students did so this year is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the outstanding support from our educators,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “Newark Public Schools is preparing global citizens, and this recognition proves our students are ready to thrive in a multilingual, multicultural world.”

To qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy, students must first meet New Jersey’s high school graduation requirements in English. They must also demonstrate proficiency in another language by passing an internationally recognized assessment, confirming their skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Recipients receive a certificate from the New Jersey Department of Education and a notation on their official transcript indicating the language in which they demonstrated proficiency. Newark’s Bilingual Department will also award each student a medal to be presented at their graduation ceremony.

This press release was produced by the Newark Board of Education. The views expressed here are the author’s own.