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Seal of Biliteracy

What is the Seal of Biliteracy?

A blue circular seal with the words 'Seal of Biliteracy' surrounding a green shield with four icons: a globe, a laptop, a stack of books, and a pen.

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given at the time of high school graduation to recognize a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in English and one or more additional languages. A gold seal is affixed to the diplomas of students who fulfill the criteria.

The Seal of Biliteracy Program was established in January 2012 when Assembly Bill 815 was passed.

Formal recognition of bilingual or multilingual proficiencies is an honor and acknowledges the importance of these skills in an increasingly interconnected, multicultural world. According to the Sonoma Valley Unified School District's Resolution 11-34, the district "...upholds that the mastery of two or more languages makes important contributions to a student's cognitive development, understanding of diverse cultures, and economic opportunities."

The Seal of Biliteracy can be earned by native English speakers who become proficient in a second language, or by native speakers of other languages who become proficient in English. 

The official seal of the California State Literacy program.

 

Criteria

Demonstrate proficiency in English by doing the following:

  • Complete English language arts graduation requirements with an overall GPA of 2.0 or above in those classes.
  • Score proficient on the 11th grade standardized test in English language arts OR pass a locally determined assessment at the "proficient" level in English language arts (such as the AP English Language exam).
  • Students whose first language is other than English must have scored early advanced or above on the CELDT.

Demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English (American Sign Language included) by doing one of the following:

  • Pass a foreign language AP exam with a score of 3 or higher or an International Baccalaureate exam with a score of 4 or higher.
  • Complete a 4-year high school course of study in a foreign language, attaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or above.
  • Pass the SAT II foreign language exam with a score of 600 or higher.
  • If no AP exam or other language test exists, pass a school district exam that assesses speaking, reading, and writing in a language other than English at the proficient level or higher.

Additional Resources