Vida Charter School’s (Vida) 2025 sixth-grade graduation featured a special addition this year. Thirteen students were recognized with prestigious biliteracy awards. For the first time in Vida’s history, four sixth graders earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy (Global Seal), and nine sixth graders earned Pathway Awards, indicating progress toward the Global Seal.
The Global Seal is a certification recognized worldwide as a standard measure of multilingual proficiency. Vida’s sixth graders took the Avant 4S assessment, which tests the four skills of language use —listening, speaking, reading, and writing —and qualifies test-takers for the Global Seal. Because the assessment is generally recommended for students in eighth grade and higher, Vida sixth graders faced an extraordinary challenge in completing both the English and Spanish tests. Earning the Global Seal is a way for Vida’s students to demonstrate their high levels of bilingualism and biliteracy, particularly as they move toward more challenging levels of Spanish instruction in middle and high school, where they will become eligible for the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy.
Dr. Christine Miller, Vida’s executive director, considers offering this opportunity to their students one of the best decisions they have ever made. “Our sixth graders have been learning in a dual immersion environment for seven years, and we believed they could be successful,” Dr. Miller explains. “Additionally, we were fortunate to kick off this initiative with 16 staff members volunteering to take the Avant 4S assessment first, with all 16 earning the Global Seal. It was important for our staff to have first-hand experience of the assessment, not only to serve as role models for our students but also to recognize the challenges our students will face as they pursue the Global Seal,” she says.
A public, tuition-free school, Vida teaches in Spanish and English using a dual language model, bridging content learning across all subjects to both languages. Students receive an equal balance of Spanish and English instruction aligned to Pennsylvania State Academic Standards. “As we created our strategic plan last year, we prioritized establishing a path for our graduates to demonstrate bilingualism and biliteracy,” says Dr. Miller. “With the Global Seal and Pathway Awards, we have now fulfilled our dream.”
The Global Seal is attractive to colleges and employers as an internationally recognized certificate of bilingualism. It can be included on college applications and resumes, leading to a host of benefits such as earning language credits, scholarship opportunities, standing out in competitive job markets, and increased earnings. The Global Seal is a lifelong credential, lasting through students’ careers.
“The Global Seal proves to the world that you have demonstrated standards-based proficiency in multiple languages. It is absolutely worth the time and energy,” says Dr. Miller. “It’s an outstanding accomplishment that is valid forever. Being bilingual and biliterate, especially from a young age, opens so many doors. From conversing with family members and other people from different linguistic backgrounds, to effective communication while traveling the world, not to mention the proven cognitive benefits, proficiency in multiple languages is a benefit for people of all walks of life!”
To learn more about Vida or to find ways to support the school, visit vidacs.org or reach out to the office at 717-334-3643.