BEST Act

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IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 113th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

D BrownleySponsor

14 cosponsors · 14 D

2 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

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.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jun 27, 2013

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.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: BEST Act

Also known as: Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching Act

Latest action (Sep 13, 2013): Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Policy area: Education · Origin: House · Introduced: Jun 27, 2013

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.