HR 2549 113th Congress House

BEST Act

Official title: To award grants to States to establish a Seal of Biliteracy program to recognize high-level student proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language.

Introduced: June 27, 2013 Introduced by: Brownley, Julia Democratic · California See on congress.gov

Education Academic performance and assessmentsEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationForeign language and bilingual programsUser charges and fees

Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Sep 13, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Jun 27, 2013

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Jun 27, 2013

Introduced in House

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Latest action September 13, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching Act or the BEST Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award renewable two-year grants to states to establish or improve a Seal of Biliteracy program to recognize student proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language.

Requires students who wish to participate in such a program to submit an application to their state that includes assurances that they: (1) will receive a secondary school diploma or its equivalent in the year they apply; and (2) have met the state's criteria for demonstrating proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language.

Requires states to provide participating students who demonstrate that proficiency: (1) a permanent seal or other marker on their secondary school diploma or its equivalent, and (2) documentation of that proficiency on their official academic transcript.

Allows students who gain proficiency in a second language outside of school to participate in such programs.

Prohibits states from charging students an application fee.

Bill text 1 version