3. a. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), establishing criteria for the award of a State Seal of Biliteracy. The criteria shall require a student to demonstrate proficiency in English by meeting State high school graduation requirements in English, including through State assessments and credits, and proficiency in one or more foreign languages other than English. The criteria shall permit a student to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language other than English through multiple methods, including nationally or internationally recognized language proficiency tests.

For the purposes of this section, a foreign language other than English shall also include American Sign Language, Latin, and Native American languages.

b. The Commissioner of Education shall prepare and deliver to participating school districts a certificate to be awarded to the student and an appropriate insignia to be affixed to the transcript of the student indicating that the student has been awarded the State Seal of Biliteracy. The commissioner shall also provide any information the commissioner deems necessary for a school district to successfully participate in the program.

c. A school district that participates in the program under this section shall maintain appropriate records in order to identify students who have earned the State Seal of Biliteracy, and shall award the certificate and affix the appropriate insignia to a qualifying student’s transcript.

d. A school district that participates in the program may pay the costs of the program or may charge a fee to students who participate to cover the costs.

L.2015, c.303, s.3.