State Seal of Biliteracy

Seal of BiliteracyPurpose of the State Seal of Biliteracy

The California State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB) was established to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.

The purposes of the SSB are to encourage pupils to study languages, to certify attainment of biliteracy, to provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills, to provide universities with a method to recognize and give academic credit to applicants seeking admission, to prepare pupils with 21st century skills, to recognize and promote foreign language instruction in public schools, and to strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community (California Education Code Section 51460).

Assembly Bill 370 has updated the requirements for the State Seal of Biliteracy.  These changes are reflected below, are effective January 1, 2024, and apply to the class of 2024.

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.

OR

ASSESSMENT (CHOOSE ONE):

    • Option 1: State Assessment: Pass the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress 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

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.

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.
    • 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.

 

  • State Seal of Biliteracy FAQs (external site)

     

    If you have any further questions regarding the State Seal of Biliteracy, please contact your school site directly.

Last Updated: December 8, 2023