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California State Seal of Biliteracy

 
 
The State Seal of Biliteracy is a recognition for high school students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in both English and at least one other language. It is marked by a gold seal on a high school diploma or transcript and can be earned by demonstrating proficiency in each language through coursework or standardized testing. This award honors students' linguistic skills, which are valuable for employers and colleges.
 
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Benefits of Earning a California State Seal of Biliteracy
 
  • Standout on graduation day with a State Seal of Biliteracy medallion and sash
  • Standout with State Seal of Biliteracy recognition on your diploma, transcript and resume
  • Standout on your college applications
  • Official acknowledgement of your multilingual abilities
 
*The only three official seals that can be placed on a graduation diploma include: the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, the State Seal of Biliteracy and the State Seal of Civic Engagement.
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California State Seal of Biliteracy Requirements
 
To be eligible for the California State Seal of Biliteracy, students must:
 

Bullet 1Requirement #1: Demonstrate English Proficiency through ONE of the following methods:

Coursework:

  • Complete all English language arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in those classes. English language arts courses completed at a college or university while in high school may be used to satisfy one or more of these course requirements.

OR

Assessment (Choose One):

Option 1: State Assessment: Pass the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) for English language arts administered in grade 11, at or above the “standard met” achievement level.

Option 2: Advanced Placement (AP) Assessment: Pass an English AP examination with a score of 3 or higher (AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature or Composition, or AP Seminar).

Option 3: International Baccalaureate (IB) Assessment: Pass an English IB examination with a score of 4 or higher.

Option 4: SAT: Achieve a score of 480 or above on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT.

Additional English Proficiency Requirement for English Learners Only:

  • In addition to the requirements mentioned above, students who are classified as English learners must attain an oral language composite score of level 4 on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).

AND

Bullet 2Requirement #2: Demonstrate proficiency in one or more languages, other than English, through ONE of the following methods:

Coursework:

  • Successfully complete a four-year course of study in a world language at the high school or higher level, attaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in that course of study, and demonstrate oral proficiency in the language comparable to that required to pass an AP or IB examination. World language courses completed at a college or university while in high school may be used to satisfy one or more of these course requirements.

OR

Assessment (Choose One):

Option 1: AP: Pass a world language AP examination with a score of 3 or higher,

Option 2: IB: Pass an IB examination with a score of 4 or higher,

Option 3: ACTFL: Pass an ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) with scores of intermediate mid or higher, or

 Option 4: District-Approved Assessment: Pass a school district language examination that, at a minimum, assesses speaking, reading, and writing in a language other than English at the proficient level or higher.

 

 
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Resources
 
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