Download the Seal of Biliteracy Poster here.
What is the State Seal of Biliteracy?
The State Seal of Biliteracy is a recognition by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction for graduating high school students who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. The State Seal of Biliteracy is marked by a gold seal affixed to the diploma or transcript.
How Can You Earn The California State Seal of Biliteracy?
To earn the California State Seal of Biliteracy, graduating high school seniors must demonstrate proficiency in English and one or more languages in addition to English. See reverse for details.
Where can I find more information about the State Seal of Biliteracy?
More information about the State Seal of Biliteracy is available on the California Department of Education State Seal of Biliteracy web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/sealofbiliteracy.asp
English Proficiency Requirements:
Complete all English Language Arts (ELA) graduation requirements with a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) or above AND pass the ELA California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress at the “standard met” level or above.
Second Language Proficiency Requirements:
Pass either an Advanced Placement (AP) exam with a three or above, an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam with a four or above, or an SAT II with a 600 or above. Or, pass a district- approved assessment of the same rigor as an AP exam OR complete a four-year high school course of study in the language with a 3.0 GPA or above AND demonstrate oral proficiency in the language.
Additional Requirement for Students Currently Classified as English Learners:
Demonstrate English proficiency on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California
The Home Language Development Recognition Award is offered to 8th grade multilingual students who demonstrate they continue to develop their home language outside of school. This award is designed to celebrate their path to biliteracy and encourage students to continue the course of language study in high school and obtain the state awarded Seal of Biliteracy. Certificates are awarded to 8th grade students who have successfully met all the criteria.
Eligibility:
8th grade students who continue to develop their home language outside of school and complete requirements by the specified date.
Required Activities:
Students independently complete the following four activities in their home language. Parent, guardian, or caregiver signs the documentation form and certifies that their child has opportunities to develop and maintain their home language and regularly participates in each of the four domains. Completion Form includes the following activities and will be provided to students once application is received:
- Listen to an activity in their home language.
- Submit a recording of a student speaking in their home language.
- Read one book (fiction or nonfiction) in their home language.
- Submit one writing sample in their home language. Score must be 3 or above.8
San Leandro Unified offers a Spanish Biliteracy Recognition Award. This award is designed to celebrate high-levels of biliteracy and to encourage students to continue their course of language study at the secondary level. The Biliteracy Recognition Award will be given to 5th grade students who have met the criteria.
Eligibility:
5th grade students in the Spanish Biliteracy Pathway and the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. 5th grade students not in either of these programs are also welcome to apply.
Required Activities:
- Opinion essay in both languages:
Prompt: Why is being biliterate important to you, your community and the world? - Read one Spanish book to a class on zoom or share a recording
- Read one English book to a class on zoom or share a recording
– record a video of you reading and send it to your teacher via google classroom -coordinate with a teacher to join their zoom meeting to read a book to the class
Criteria:
English STAR Reading score of 40% or above
Spanish STAR Reading Score of 40% or above
Demonstrate writing proficiency in English and Spanish by scoring a 4 on the writing rubric