Students’ Language Skills May Soon Reap Rewards
By Tiffani Bourque
Sanford High School students who speak more than one language may soon have an opportunity to turn those skills into college credits, potential tuition savings and recognition on their academic transcripts.
During the Nov. 2 School Committee meeting, Assistant Superintendent Steve Bussiere announced plans to introduce the Maine Seal of Biliteracy, a state-recognized award honoring graduating seniors who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language, including American Sign Language.
Maine established the designation in 2018 to recognize students’ language abilities regardless of whether students developed those skills through school coursework or at home. Eligible students attending University of Maine System institutions may receive up to eight college credits, potentially saving the cost of multiple courses.
Bussiere said the district had considered offering the program previously but was waiting until it had the capacity to implement it. Interest from a student also helped prompt the decision to move forward.
“Now, we think it’s the right time to take this on,” Bussiere said.
Students must be graduating seniors, demonstrate English proficiency and pass an approved assessment in their additional language. Potential candidates include advanced Spanish students, multilingual learners and students who speak another language at home.
Beth Letourneau of the high school’s counseling department is coordinating the program, which Bussiere described as a pilot year. The district estimates assessment costs at $10 to $12 per student, with no cap on the number of recipients.
“This is just another way to honor kids,” Bussiere said, noting the potential academic, financial and career benefits.
The committee also reviewed fall Northwest Evaluation Association assessment results for Sanford students in grades one through 10. The assessments measure student achievement in reading and mathematics and help educators identify academic strengths and areas needing additional instruction.
Districtwide, the median student scored at the 45th national percentile in reading and the 48th percentile in mathematics, compared with the national median of 50.
Beth Lambert, who presented the results, cautioned against drawing conclusions from the median scores alone.
“Two groups can have the same median and look very different,” Lambert said.
She explained that one group might have most students scoring near the middle, while another could have students performing at both the highest and lowest levels, producing a similar median despite significant differences in achievement.
Lambert emphasized that fall testing establishes a starting point for measuring growth throughout the school year. Teachers have begun reviewing individual results to identify learning gaps and opportunities for more challenging instruction.
Among the elementary results, second-grade students scored at the 53rd national percentile in mathematics, exceeding the national median, while first-grade students reached the 49th percentile in math.
District administrators reported strong testing participation, approaching 95% districtwide and nearly 100% at the elementary level.
At the Monday meeting, the committee recognized Sanford Regional Technical Center agriculture students for their achievements at the National Future Farmers of America Convention, where the floriculture team earned a silver medal and several individual awards.
Superintendent Matt Nelson congratulated the Sanford High School marching band, which earned a gold medal and five-star rating at the Maine Band Directors Association State Finals before winning the Maine Division IV-A championship at the U.S. Bands New England Finals.
Nelson additionally recognized the Sanford Middle School counseling team, which received the 2026 Power of the Positive Award from Maine Youth Thriving for its work supporting student well-being.
The committee also voted unanimously to schedule a Nov. 16 workshop to continue discussions about class rank and weighted grades for the Class of 2028 and beyond.
The next school committee meeting is Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.
Tiffani Bourque is a Community Reporting Fellow receiving training through the Journalism New England Career Lab to do civic reporting that provides people in towns across New England with the information they need to be engaged in their community.
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