Seal of Biliteracy
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award certain institutions can grant to students who demonstrate their proficiency in two or more languages. A biliteracy seal on a diploma or transcript demonstrates that a student can effectively use more than one language in real-world situations. Colleges, universities, and employers often seek individuals with biliteracy skills, so offering the Seal of Biliteracy can help your graduating seniors.
Institutions that use the Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA), Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) can implement the Seal of Biliteracy to help students prove their language proficiency. Administering a language proficiency test allows these institutions to assess and certify students based on their language proficiency level. Certifying their biliteracy can lead bilingual students to more opportunities following graduation.
ACTFL language assessments allow institutions using the AAPPL, ALIRA, OPI, and WPT to measure students' proficiency levels in various languages. This increases opportunities for students proficient in two languages, including less commonly taught and tested ones, to earn the Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is a valuable and important credential for bilingual students, and institutions can offer this award based on the results of ACTFL tests delivered by Language Testing International® (LTI®).
What Is the Seal of Biliteracy?
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given to graduating high school seniors by the states in which they reside that recognizes their proficiency in more than one language. It is presented as a gold seal on a student's diploma or transcript. Students can receive this award if they demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages by the time they graduate high school.
Why Implement the Seal of Biliteracy?
Implementing the Seal of Biliteracy is important because it demonstrates to students that mastering two or more languages is valuable. When states and school systems implement the Seal of Biliteracy, they encourage students to develop their language skills. This award is also important because it honors students' abilities and achievements.
The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes a student's proficiency in two or more languages and serves as proof of accomplishment students can show to college admissions recruiters and future employers. Many colleges, universities, and employers value biliteracy skills, so obtaining this award can increase students' opportunities.
The Seal of Biliteracy can potentially help students earn admission to their preferred college or university programs and help them obtain certain job positions following graduation. It may also be accepted by some institutions for college credit or course placement. While many jobs may not require proficiency in more than one language, demonstrating language proficiency in a second language can increase an individual's chances of obtaining certain positions, for example, within the U.S. Foreign Service.
Implementing the Seal of Biliteracy in a school, district, or state can inspire and motivate students to pursue biliteracy. It can invoke a sense of pride in students proficient in two or more languages and encourage other students to obtain the same skills.
Who Awards the Seal?
States, districts, and public and private schools can award the Seal of Biliteracy to students. Californians Together originally designed the award for states and school districts to give to students, but individual schools and school programs can also implement it.
County offices can invite individual school districts or schools to implement the Seal of Biliteracy. However, schools and districts create an application process, engage students in the process, and certify students when they meet the requirements for the Seal. Schools organize the courses and materials to support students learning second languages, and they administer tests to measure language proficiency and grant the biliteracy seal to students that demonstrate established minimum proficiency levels.
Seal of Biliteracy Requirements
Each state has different laws and requirements regarding the Seal of Biliteracy, so it's important to consider state guidelines when implementing the award. Check your state's requirements before offering the Seal of Biliteracy at your educational organization.
How Do Students Get the Seal of Biliteracy?
Students can receive the Seal of Biliteracy by taking ACTFL assessments that measure their proficiency in target languages. ACTFL developed tests like the OPI and WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy to increase language users' access to the Seal of Biliteracy, especially for students proficient in less commonly taught and tested languages.
Tests that can be used for purposes of awarding the Seal of Biliteracy measure a student's ability to effectively use a language in real-world situations. ACTFL offers proficiency assessments to support the biliteracy seal and help students earn it.
Language Testing International delivers ACTFL assessments that students can take to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy. These assessments are the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), the ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA), the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), and the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT). For certain languages, there is a bundled option available, the ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy, that includes the OPI and the WPT and is specifically designed for language users in Grades 11 and 12 who wish to earn the Seal of Biliteracy in less commonly taught and tested languages.
Offer the Seal of Biliteracy with ACTFL Assessments Delivered by Language Testing International
The Seal of Biliteracy is incredibly valuable for high school graduates. Obtaining a biliteracy seal can help your students earn admittance to their preferred college or university, and it can open more career opportunities following graduation. Many companies favor job candidates who are proficient in two or more languages, so the Seal of Biliteracy can help students impress future employers and pursue an excellent career.
ACTFL supports the Seal of Biliteracy with its assessments for the Grades 3-12 market. These assessments are used globally and are recognized as the gold standard in language testing. The OPI, WPT, AAPPL, and ALIRA measure students' abilities to use languages effectively and, depending on state requirements, their scores can determine their eligibility for the Seal of Biliteracy.
Language Testing International delivers ACTFL language proficiency assessments to help qualified academic institutions award the Seal of Biliteracy so individuals can pursue this award. LTI delivers ACTFL assessments designed to measure language proficiency in speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills. LTI has been a leader in language testing since 1992 and delivers ACTFL language proficiency tests in over 120 languages.
Taking an ACTFL language proficiency assessment can help students obtain the Seal of Biliteracy, demonstrate their language proficiency, and open doors to more educational and career opportunities. The Seal of Biliteracy can be incredibly beneficial. Browse our assessment offerings or learn more about our language testing services.