BEST Act

Recognition of Student Skills: The bill allows students to have a permanent seal or marker on their high school diploma or official academic transcript to recognize their proficiency in two languages (Section 4(b)(3)).

Economic and Educational Benefits: The findings suggest that biliteracy correlates with higher graduation rates, higher grade point averages, higher rates of matriculation into higher education, and higher earnings for all students (Section 2(5)).

Inclusion of Native American Languages: The program allows for the use of Native American languages as a base language, where proficiency in the language can be used instead of English proficiency (Section 4(a)(2)).

Equitable Access: The bill requires States to develop plans to ensure English learners, former English learners, and students with disabilities have equitable access to these programs (Section 4(b)(2)).

Support for Low-Income Students: Grant funds can be used for subgrants to local educational agencies to subsidize baseline and final testing for low-income students (Section 4(d)(3)).

Grant Limitations: A State is prohibited from receiving more than one grant under this section at any given time (Section 4(a)(5)).

Financial Accountability for States: If a State receives a grant, it must return any unspent funds no later than 6 months after the grant term ends (Section 4(a)(6)).