I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7007 
To award grants to States to establish or improve, and carry out, Seal 
of Biliteracy programs to recognize high-level student proficiency in 
speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language, 
and early language programs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 17, 2024 
Ms. BROWNLEY (for herself, Mr. CONNOLLY, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. 
PANETTA, and Ms. SA´NCHEZ) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To award grants to States to establish or improve, and 
carry out, Seal of Biliteracy programs to recognize high- 
level student proficiency in speaking, reading, and writ-
ing in both English and a second language, and early 
language programs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Biliteracy Education 
Seal and Teaching Act’’ or the ‘‘BEST Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The people of the United States celebrate 
cultural and linguistic diversity and seek to prepare 
students with skills to succeed in the 21st century. 
(2) It is fitting to commend the dedication of 
students who have achieved proficiency in multiple 
languages and to encourage their peers to follow in 
their footsteps. 
(3) The congressionally requested Commission 
on Language Learning, in its 2017 report ‘‘Amer-
ica’s Languages: Investing in Language Education 
for the 21st Century’’, notes the pressing national 
need for more people of the United States who are 
proficient in 2 or more languages for national secu-
rity, economic growth, and the fulfillment of the po-
tential of all people of the United States. 
(4) The Commission on Language Learning 
also notes the extensive cognitive, educational, and 
employment benefits deriving from biliteracy. 
(5) Biliteracy in general correlates with higher 
graduation rates, higher grade point averages, high-
er rates of matriculation into higher education, and 
higher earnings for all students, regardless of back-
ground. 
(6) The study of America’s languages in ele-
mentary and secondary schools should be encouraged 
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because it contributes to a student’s cognitive devel-
opment and to the national economy and security. 
(7) Recognition of student achievement in lan-
guage proficiency will enable institutions of higher 
education and employers to readily recognize and ac-
knowledge the valuable expertise of bilingual stu-
dents in academia and the workplace. 
(8) States such as Utah, Arizona, Washington, 
and New Mexico have developed innovative testing 
methods for languages, including Native American 
languages, where no formal proficiency test currently 
exists. 
(9) The use of proficiency in a government-rec-
ognized official Native American language as the 
base language for a Seal of Biliteracy, with pro-
ficiency in any additional partner language dem-
onstrated through tested proficiency, has been suc-
cessfully demonstrated in Hawaii. 
(10) Students in every State and every school 
should be able to benefit from a Seal of Biliteracy 
program. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ESEA DEFINITIONS.—The terms ‘‘elemen-
tary school’’, ‘‘English learner’’, ‘‘local educational 
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agency’’, ‘‘middle grades’’, ‘‘secondary school’’, and 
‘‘State’’ have the meanings given those terms in sec-
tion 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) CLASSICAL
LANGUAGE.—The term ‘‘clas-
sical language’’— 
(A) means— 
(i) a language that is no longer spo-
ken; or 
(ii) a language— 
(I) the spoken varieties of which 
diverge further away from the clas-
sical language over time; and 
(II) that possesses an inde-
pendent literary tradition and a large 
body of ancient written literature; and 
(B) includes Greek, Latin, Chinese, Arabic, 
and Sanskrit. 
(3) NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGE.—The term 
‘‘Native American language’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 103 of the Native American Lan-
guages Act (25 U.S.C. 2902). 
(4) SEAL OF BILITERACY PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘Seal of Biliteracy program’’ means any program 
described in section 4(a) that is established or im-
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proved, and carried out, with funds received under 
this Act. 
(5) SECOND
LANGUAGE.—The term ‘‘second 
language’’— 
(A) means any language other than— 
(i) English; or 
(ii) in a case where the provisions of 
paragraph (2) of section 4(a) apply, the 
Native American language of proficiency 
described in such paragraph; and 
(B) includes Braille, American Sign Lan-
guage, or a classical language. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR STATE SEAL OF BILITERACY PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made avail-
able under subsection (f), the Secretary shall award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to States to enable 
the States to establish or improve, and carry out, 
Seal of Biliteracy programs and early language pro-
grams that lead to a Seal of Biliteracy to recognize 
student proficiency in both English and a second 
language, which— 
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(A) shall be demonstrated through pro-
ficiency in speaking and writing in both lan-
guages; and 
(B) may also be demonstrated through 
reading and listening in both languages. 
(2) INCLUSION
OF
NATIVE
AMERICAN
LAN-
GUAGES.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), each Seal 
of Biliteracy program shall contain provisions allow-
ing the use of Native American languages, including 
allowing speakers of any Native American language 
recognized as official by any American government, 
including any Tribal government, to use equivalent 
proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in the 
Native American language in lieu of proficiency in 
speaking, reading, and writing in English. 
(3) DURATION.—A grant awarded under this 
section shall be for a period of 2 years, and may be 
renewed at the discretion of the Secretary. 
(4) RENEWAL.—At the end of a grant term, a 
State that receives a grant under this section may 
reapply for a grant under this section. 
(5) LIMITATIONS.—A State shall not receive 
more than 1 grant under this section at any time. 
(6) RETURN
OF
UNSPENT
GRANT
FUNDS.— 
Each State that receives a grant under this section 
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shall return any unspent grant funds not later than 
6 months after the date on which the term for the 
grant ends. 
(b) GRANT PROGRAM.—A State that desires a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information and assurances as the Secretary may require, 
including— 
(1) a description of the criteria a student must 
meet to demonstrate proficiency for the State Seal 
of Biliteracy in both languages, which— 
(A) shall include proficiency criteria for the 
2 productive skills of speaking and writing; and 
(B) may include proficiency criteria for the 
skills of reading and listening; 
(2) a detailed description of the State’s plan— 
(A) to ensure that English learners and 
former English learners are included in the 
State Seal of Biliteracy program; 
(B) to ensure equitable access to the State 
Seal of Biliteracy program for students with 
identified disabilities, including vision and hear-
ing impairments and cognitive or learning dis-
abilities, that preclude demonstration of lan-
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guage proficiency in one of the skills identified 
in paragraph (1); 
(C) to ensure that— 
(i) all languages, including Native 
American languages and American Sign 
Language, can be tested for the State Seal 
of Biliteracy program; and 
(ii) Native American language speak-
ers and learners are included in the State 
Seal of Biliteracy program, including stu-
dents at tribally controlled schools and at 
schools funded by the Bureau of Indian 
Education; and 
(D) to reach elementary school and middle 
grades students (including eligible students de-
scribed in subsection (c)(2), heritage language 
learners, and English learners), their parents, 
and schools with information regarding the 
State Seal of Biliteracy program; 
(3) an assurance that a student who meets the 
requirements under paragraph (1) and subsection 
(c) receives— 
(A) a permanent seal or other marker on 
the student’s secondary school diploma or its 
equivalent; or 
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(B) documentation of proficiency on the 
student’s official academic transcript; and 
(4) an assurance that a student is not charged 
a fee for providing information under subsection 
(c)(1). 
(c) STUDENT
PARTICIPATION
IN
A
SEAL
OF 
BILITERACY PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To participate in a Seal of 
Biliteracy program, a student shall provide informa-
tion to the State that serves the student at such 
time, in such manner, and including such informa-
tion and assurances as the State may require, in-
cluding an assurance that the student has met the 
criteria established by the State under subsection 
(b)(1). 
(2) STUDENT
ELIGIBILITY
FOR
PARTICIPA-
TION.—A student who gained proficiency in a second 
language outside of school may apply to the State of 
the student’s residence under paragraph (1) to par-
ticipate in a Seal of Biliteracy program. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—Grant funds made available 
under this section shall be used for— 
(1) the administrative costs of establishing or 
improving, and carrying out, a Seal of Biliteracy 
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program that meets the requirements of subsection 
(b); 
(2) public outreach and education about the 
Seal of Biliteracy program; and 
(3) subgrants to local educational agencies for 
language educator professional development, public 
outreach, and subsidizing baseline and final Seal of 
Biliteracy testing for low-income students. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after receiv-
ing a grant under this section, a State shall issue a report 
to the Secretary describing the implementation of the Seal 
of Biliteracy program for which the State received the 
grant. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 
Æ 
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