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The Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy is awarded by participating Connecticut districts, under Connecticut State Department of Education guidelines, to graduates who complete the English language arts graduation requirements and reach Intermediate Mid in another language. It was created by Public Act 17-29 (C.G.S. 10-5(f)) and began in 2017-18; 106 districts took part in 2023-24. Connecticut’s distinctive rule is that the minimum “must be earned on each domain, rather than just on the composite score.” This guide covers the requirements, the tests and scores, and how districts run it.
Table of contents
What the Connecticut Seal of Biliteracy Is
Quick answer: the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy recognizes graduates who complete all English language arts graduation requirements and demonstrate the other language “at a level comparable to Intermediate Mid on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines,” in grade 10 or later. It appears on the diploma and the transcript.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administered by | Connecticut State Department of Education, through participating districts |
| Law | C.G.S. 10-5(f), Public Act 17-29, amended by Public Act 24-78; guidelines dated April 2025 |
| English | “Students must complete all English language arts requirements for graduation” |
| World language level | Intermediate Mid, on each domain |
| Timing | Grade 10 or later |
| Participation | Optional, “strongly encourage[d]”; 106 districts in 2023-24 |
| Seals | 3,016 in 2020-21, the latest published count |
Connecticut Seal of Biliteracy Requirements
- English: complete all English language arts graduation requirements. There is no separate test, and “Both native and non-native speakers of English must provide comparable evidence.”
- Other language: Intermediate Mid, earned “on each domain, rather than just on the composite score,” from grade 10 onward.
The statute includes American Sign Language “and any other language spoken by a Native American tribe.” A district that offers the seal “must not offer the Seal only to certain students or only for certain languages.”
Approved Tests and Scores
| Assessment | Minimum |
|---|---|
| AAPPL Form B | I-3 in all four domains |
| STAMP 4S, WS, 3S, SuperLanguage | Intermediate Mid |
| ACTFL OPI, OPIc, WPT, RPT, LPT | Intermediate Mid |
| NEWL | Intermediate Mid |
| AP; IB | 3; 4 (enrolled students only) |
| DELF, Goethe, DELE, SIELE, TOCFL and others | B1 |
| STAMP for ASL; ASLPI; SLPI | 5; 3; Intermediate |
| STAMP Latin; ALIRA | 5; I-3 |
| LAS Links Español | 3 |
| ALTA | ILR 1+, only where no four-domain test exists |
Where no test exists, the district designs an assessment plan and the principal certifies it. Districts may also use an unlisted test if it is valid and comparable to Intermediate Mid. How these rules compare with other states is in Seal of Biliteracy test.
How Connecticut Districts Run It
Districts decide to participate, test students from grade 10, and report test attempts each summer through the state’s data system. Some districts give earlier “pathway awards” in elementary and middle school to recognize progress toward the seal. English learners have no separate English test route: they complete the ELA graduation requirements, and CSDE encourages them to participate, often in their home language.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Connecticut Seal of Biliteracy requirements?
All English language arts graduation requirements, plus Intermediate Mid on each domain of an approved assessment in another language, in grade 10 or later.
What AAPPL score does Connecticut require?
I-3 in all four domains.
Does Connecticut use a composite score?
No. The minimum must be earned on each domain, not on the composite.
Can English learners earn the Connecticut seal?
Yes. They complete the ELA graduation requirements and can test in their home language.
Do all Connecticut districts offer it?
No. Participation is optional; 106 districts took part in 2023-24.
Related Resources
- Seal of Biliteracy Test
- Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy
- New York Seal of Biliteracy
- New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy
- Seal of Biliteracy by State
Conclusion
Connecticut’s seal asks for Intermediate Mid, the most common level, but applies it to every domain separately, from grade 10 on. That single rule decides more outcomes than the level itself: a student strong in reading and weak in speaking does not qualify.
Sources: CSDE, Seal of Biliteracy; CSDE, Seal of Biliteracy Guidelines (April 2025); CSDE, FAQ; CSDE, infographic. Verified September 28, 2026.
Each Domain Counts on Its Own
Because Connecticut applies the bar to each domain, the weakest one decides. For students who learned the language in class, that is usually speaking, because a class of twenty-five leaves each student a few minutes of conversation a day. That is the Speaking Time Gap.
Some schools add speaking practice that does not depend on class time. Telo AI is one example: short conversation sessions in English, Spanish or French that adapt to each student’s level and ask follow-up questions instead of accepting one-word answers. See how that works across a school year.
A composite can hide a weak domain. Connecticut’s rule does not.
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