The Office of World Languages envisions building a dynamic, inclusive, and globally minded learning environment. Our vision is to empower DPSCD students to be global citizens and to develop language and cultural proficiency to foster communication, cultural understanding, and empathy in an interconnected world.

Our mission is to prepare our students to thrive in diverse communities and to inspire a love of languages and cultures so that students can meaningfully communicate and interact in a multicultural world. The Office of World Languages is committed to: 

• Providing Access to High-Quality Instructional Materials and Curriculum
• Promoting Intercultural Understanding and Appreciation 
• Excellence and Rigor
• Instilling a Passion for Lifelong Language Learning
• Connecting Students to the Community - both locally and globally  

DPSCD offers instruction in Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and American Sign Language, serving over 8,500 students at elementary, middle, and high school levels, to meet the diverse language needs of our community.  

Curriculum Overview

The World Language curriculum fulfills the World Language graduation requirement set by the Michigan Merit Curriculum. The curriculum is proficiency focused and guides students to acquire the language naturally and for communicative purposes. All students must complete two credits in a World Language other than English or demonstrate equivalent two-year proficiency at the Novice High level on the ACTFL Proficiency Scale. At this level, students are expected to communicate effectively in predictable situations across a range of contexts when interacting with native speakers.

Michigan Academic Standards for World Languages

• World Languages FAQ
• World Languages Guidelines
• World Languages Standards and Benchmarks

Seal of Biliteracy

The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy (MI-SoBL) recognizes high school graduates who exhibit language proficiency in English and at least one additional world language. The Seal may be awarded to any student receiving a high school diploma, a high school certificate of completion, or a high school equivalency certificate, who has demonstrated Intermediate High Proficiency on acceptable world language assessments. The Seal encourages students to study World Languages and embrace their native and heritage languages. The Seal will provide employers with a way to identify individuals with strong language and biliteracy skills. The Seal serves as an additional tool for colleges and universities to recognize applicants' language abilities for admission and placement.

There are three ways for students to earn the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy:

1. A learner outside the United States with transcripts that show education in 6th grade or beyond in a language other than English
2. A native or heritage speaker who takes a Michigan Department of Education (MDE) approved assessment OR approved Alternative Process for Assessment and obtains a score of Intermediate High on all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
3. A classroom learner enrolled in World Language classes (including AP and IB) who takes a Michigan Department of Education (MDE) approved assessment and obtains a score of Intermediate High on all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).

For more information about the Seal of Biliteracy, explore these resources:

• Michigan Seal of Biliteracy Process Flowchart
• Michigan Department of Education - Seal of Biliteracy