Fairfield Area High School teachers hope to give students the opportunity to add one more credential to their resume.

At their Jan. 9 meeting, foreign language teachers Ute Cline and Tara Phillips asked the district’s board of education to adopt the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy. The seal recognizes students who can speak, listen, and write at a high level in English and another language, the teachers said, including American Sign Language.

"Learning a foreign language makes you more diverse and makes you more employable," Cline said. "There is just no negativity to it."

Phillips said the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association created the seal in 2019 as an award for students who achieved language excellence. It helps employers and universities identify bilingual people, recognizes students with 21st century skills, and encourages the study of other languages and cultures.

To earn the certificate, Cline told the board that high school seniors must earn at least a B in all English and foreign language classes they take in grades 9 through 12. If successful, they must also either score proficient or advanced on the Keystone Exams or earn a 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement Literature Exam. Instead of testing, a student can submit a portfolio that includes listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections.

Students must apply for the seal by Jan. 15 of their senior year, Phillips said. If the board approves Cline and Phillips’ proposal, 2024 seniors will have until March to apply. The honor will be distributed annually at Senior Class Awards Night. Successful applicants will be given a medal they can wear to commencement.

Cline said the district will incur few costs if it adopts the program. The only related expenses are the costs of the certificates and medal, which she estimates is $100 annually.

School assessment

Aaron Taylor, assistant to the superintendent for curriculum, special education and student services, presented the school’s Future Ready Scores to the board.

The Elementary School earned 79.3, middle school a 68.2, and high school a 60.

The Future Ready PA Index is a collection of school progress measures related to school and student success. The index includes a range of assessment, on-track, and readiness indicators, to more accurately report student learning, growth, and success in the classroom and beyond.

Colleen Rebert, elementary school principal, said her school is above the state average for English Language Arts/Literature but did not meet the assigned target. The school exceeded goals set for Mathematics and Science, Rebert said.

Fairfield Area High and Middle school did not meet its goals in all assessed areas, according to the report. All principals cited challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for the lower scores. The principals noted attendance is especially an issue at all grade levels.