SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1P the following section:-

Section 1Q. The commissioner shall develop criteria and guidelines for a state seal of biliteracy to be awarded by school districts to recognize high school graduates who have met academic benchmarks determined by the department in 1 or more languages in addition to English.

The department shall develop an insignia to be affixed to the diploma or transcript of a student who has been awarded a state seal of biliteracy and make the insignia available to school districts in an electronic format for the preparation of diplomas. A school district that chooses to award the state seal of biliteracy to qualifying students pursuant to this section shall maintain appropriate records to identify students who have earned a state seal of biliteracy and to affix the appropriate insignia to the diplomas or transcripts of those students.

SECTION 2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall consider the recommendations of the language opportunity coalition in developing the guidelines for the state seal of biliteracy pursuant to section 1Q of chapter 69 of the General Laws.

SECTION 3. This act shall apply to school years beginning on and after the 2018-2019 school year.