Seal of Biliteracy
Congratulations to the 2023 graduates that are recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy:
Pictured Left to Right: Cloe Blom, Sam Meester, Josue Santos Alvayeros, Madeline Johnson, Madison DeJong, and Aide Palma
2022 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy:
Sydney Blom
Mallorie Mogler
Jordan Van Veldhuizen
2021 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy
Left to Right: Hayley Knoblock, Kennedy Kramer, Sarah Perez, Caitlyn Lapka, and Grace Bauder
2020 Seal of Biliteracy recipient
Mary Palma
2019 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy
Left to Right: Hannah Kruse, Andrea Escamilla, Riley Knobloch, Erica Kellenberger, and Rebekah Rinkenberger
About the Seal
In early 2018, Governor Kim Reynolds signed SF475 into law. The law states that Iowa schools can “develop and administer a seal of biliteracy program to recognize students graduating from high school who have demonstrated proficiency in two or more world languages, one of which must be English. Participation in the program by a school district, attendance center, or accredited nonpublic school shall be voluntary.”
~Sec. 17. Section 256.9, Code 2017
As such, West Lyon has chosen to participate in this new program because the school wants to recognize the value and importance of bilingualism or multilingualism. Having the ability to speak two or more languages creates an advantage for students when they enter the labor market. Additionally, employers and universities can acknowledge the student’s attainment of biliteracy by awarding them with grants, scholarships, or other rewards.
The class of 2019 will be the first class offered the seal of biliteracy.