WORCESTER—Worcester Public Schools is one of just two districts in Massachusetts to receive the state’s highest recognition for helping students graduate proficient in more than one language, an achievement that also reflects efforts to make the opportunity accessible to students who have learned English as a second language.
The district received the Platinum Star Award from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for its participation in the State Seal of Biliteracy program, which recognizes graduating seniors who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one other language.
Worcester qualified by meeting a threshold of at least 200 students or 30% of its graduating class earning the seal, along with three benchmarks measuring participation among students with different English-language learning backgrounds.
The award places Worcester among 55 school districts recognized statewide this year, but only two received the Platinum Star distinction.
Established in 2019, the State Seal of Biliteracy gives graduating students a formal acknowledgment of their language skills, which can be valuable in pursuing higher education and employment.
This year marked the first time the state recognized districts not only for the number of students earning the seal but also for their success in making it accessible to students from different backgrounds and with varying educational needs.
Worcester met equity benchmarks involving students currently classified as English learners, those who have exited that classification and those who have been identified as English learners at any point in their education.
The distinction is particularly significant because it recognizes multilingual students for their proficiency in two or more languages, rather than focusing solely on their progress toward English proficiency.
“The Worcester Public Schools remains committed to supporting students with earning the Seal of Biliteracy,” Superintendent Brian E. Allen said in the district’s announcement. “Being fluent in more than one language is a true gift that opens the door to a lifetime of additional opportunities, while promoting cultural inclusivity. We are grateful that DESE and Commissioner Martinez are recognizing our staff and students for their efforts.”
State Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez presented the award to Jessica Mandes, Worcester’s director of multilingual education, and Michelle Huaman, the district’s world language curriculum specialist.
The recognition also reflects work across Worcester’s high schools, where coordinators help students pursue the seal. Those educators include Ofelia Maskewich at North High School, Jailene Muñoz at South High School, Araceli Esqueda at Doherty Memorial High School, Adriana Perez Sabido at Burncoat High School, Monica Echevarria at Claremont Academy and Yenilda Melendez at Worcester Technical High School. Huaman coordinates the program districtwide and for alternative schools.
In a separate state announcement recognizing the 55 districts, Martinez described bilingualism as an increasingly valuable skill for students entering the workforce.
“As we prepare students for graduation and to enter our state’s workforce, we recognize the enormous asset that bilingualism is,” Martinez said. “The recognized districts have made a sustained effort to increase access to the Seal of Biliteracy so that more students have the opportunity to display their skills.”
The award recognizes Worcester’s efforts to ensure that students who speak multiple languages have opportunities to demonstrate and receive formal recognition for those abilities before leaving high school.
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Feedback to this story? A good recipe, a funny joke or a suggestion? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
- The Worcester Guardian is an independent nonprofit news organization. Support local journalism by making a DONATION today.
