BEST Act Pushes for Bilingual Recognition: $10M in Grants for State Seal of Biliteracy Programs

The "Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching Act," or BEST Act, aims to get more students certified as fluent in both English and at least one other language. It's setting up a grant program where states can snag funds to create or boost their "Seal of Biliteracy" programs. These programs formally recognize students who can speak, write, and potentially read and listen in English and another language – including Native American languages, American Sign Language, and even classical languages like Latin. (Sec. 4(a)).

Double-Take on Diplomas

The core idea is to officially acknowledge students' bilingual skills, something the bill's findings say is good for their brains, job prospects, and even national security (Sec. 2). Think of it like an extra gold star on your diploma that tells colleges and employers you're bringing some serious language skills to the table. The bill specifically mentions that being bilingual can lead to higher graduation rates, better GPAs, and even more money down the line (Sec. 2).

Real-World Ready

This isn't just about learning languages in a classroom. The BEST Act wants to make sure students can actually use these languages. For example, a student who grew up speaking Spanish at home could get their skills officially recognized, even if they didn't take formal Spanish classes (Sec. 4(a)(8)). Or, a student could demonstrate proficiency in a Native American language, like Navajo, potentially instead of English (Sec. 4(a)(2)). This opens doors for students from diverse backgrounds. The bill also makes sure that English learners and students with disabilities have equal access to these programs (Sec. 4(a)(5)).

Cash for Credentials

To make this happen, the bill authorizes $10 million each year from 2025 through 2029 (Sec. 4(h)). States can apply for these grants, which last for two years and can be renewed (Sec. 4(a)(3)). The money can be used for things like program administration, letting people know about the program, training teachers, and even helping low-income students pay for any testing fees (Sec. 4(a)(9)). States have to show how they'll test students' skills, and they can't charge students to participate (Sec. 4(a)(4), (7)). Within 18 months of getting a grant, states need to report back on how things are going (Sec. 4(a)(10)). If any money is left unspent at the end of the grant period, states have to return the unused funds within six months. (Sec. 4(a)(3)).

Making it Work

The BEST Act builds on existing laws like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Sec. 3). It directly acknowledges that many states, including Utah, Arizona, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii, are already working on ways to test language proficiency, including for Native American languages (Sec. 2).