A new incentive for students to learn foreign language

EVERETT — High school students who are fluent in a foreign language can earn another high school credit for their ability.

Everett Public Schools is offering testing in a number of world languages, and students who score well enough to be considered fluent speakers, readers and writers can earn more credits as well as qualify for the new state Seal of Biliteracy.

The current class of 2019 is the first that has a foreign language requirement for graduation, under the new 24-credit system.

Those students have the option of having the test provide one of those credits, but the test is also targeted for English Language Learner students, said Becky Ballbach, the district’s director of student support services.

“This is a really great way for them to take this proficiency and earn credit,” Ballbach said.

The registration deadline for the world language tests is Thursday Oct. 8, and can be done at Cascade, Everett or Jackson high schools.

The languages in which testing is offered are Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese (both standard and simplified), Russian and Spanish.

The tests will be given at Everett High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Henry M. Jackson High School on Saturday, Nov. 7, and at Cascade High School on Saturday, Nov. 14.

All testing will be done between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tests are not timed.

If students speak a language other than those listed, they are asked to send their name, school, grade level and their language to WLA@everettsd.org for more information.

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