Sec. 3. (a) The state certificate of biliteracy is created to:
(1) encourage students to study languages;
(2) certify the attainment of biliteracy;
(3) provide employers with a method of identifying individuals with language and biliteracy skills;
(4) provide postsecondary educational institutions with an additional method to recognize applicants for admission;
(5) prepare students with twenty-first century skills; and
(6) recognize the value of foreign language and native language instruction in public schools.
(b) The receipt of the certificate demonstrates the attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduate of a public or a state accredited nonpublic high school, sufficient for meaningful use in college and a career, in one (1) or more languages in addition to English.
(c) A school corporation, a charter school, or a state accredited nonpublic high school is not required to participate in the certificate program.