Vine compares Seal of Biliteracy and Civic Readiness for CPL
Vine says both seals recognize significant high school learning, but Biliteracy aligns with established language proficiency standards while Civic Readiness is broader. She says CUNY must examine evidence from particular pathways before awarding credit.
The seal of biliteracy offers a useful point of comparison because both seals recognize the significant learning completed in high school.
For CPL purposes, however, the two seals present different assessment questions.
Biliteracy can be demonstrated against...
Against established language proficiency standards, while civic readiness encompasses a broader
range of knowledge, skills, experiences, and forms of participation.
From CUNY's perspective, the Seal of Biliteracy reflects a model of CPL assessment that is somewhat different from the topic of today's hearing, the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness.
First, the Seal of Civic Readiness recognizes valuable learning and engagement across several pathways.
Because those pathways are intentionally varied, the learning demonstrated by SEAL recipients may not be uniform in content, depth, or alignment with a particular college course.
The CPL question is therefore not whether civic readiness has value, but how CUNY can identify the routes and evidence that demonstrates college-level learning.
The New York State Seal of Biliteracy provides a comparatively direct basis for CPL review because every recipient demonstrates language proficiency aligned with nationally recognized standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language.
Civic readiness is broader by design and may be demonstrated through different combinations of coursework, projects, service, and other learning experiences.
That breadth is a strength of the steel, but it also means that CUNY must examine the evidence associated with particular pathways before determining the appropriate award of college credit.