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Knowing how to get the Seal of Biliteracy is mostly about planning ahead: the award is earned over the high school years, not in a single test. This guide lays out the steps, from checking your state’s criteria to demonstrating proficiency in both languages, so students and families can map a clear path to the seal.
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How Do You Get the Seal of Biliteracy?
Quick answer: to get the Seal of Biliteracy, a student demonstrates proficiency in English and in at least one other language by high school graduation, following their state’s specific criteria. In practice that means meeting the English requirement (through state assessments or coursework), passing an approved language assessment or completing a qualifying course sequence in the other language, and having the school verify it in time for graduation.
The Steps
- Check your state’s criteria. Requirements and accepted assessments vary; start with your state’s Seal of Biliteracy rules.
- Confirm the English requirement. This is usually met through the state English/ELA assessment, a GPA in English courses, or, for English Learners, the state English proficiency test.
- Plan the other-language proof. Choose an approved route: an assessment like the AAPPL, an AP or IB exam, a multi-year course, or a portfolio for less commonly tested languages.
- Take the assessment in the right window. Many states test in grades 9 to 12; register early, ideally junior or senior year.
- Apply through your school. Make sure your counselor or world-language department has your evidence before graduation.
A Note for Heritage and Bilingual Students
Students who already speak a language at home are often closest to the seal; they simply need to verify their proficiency through an approved assessment. Some states also accept documented schooling in the language. The seal credentials a strength these students already have.
A Year-by-Year Timeline
Because the seal is earned over the high school years rather than in a single sitting, a simple timeline helps students avoid a last-minute scramble. The exact grades vary by state, but the sequence below reflects how most families plan.
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| Grades 9 to 10 | Confirm your state’s criteria and accepted assessments. Stay on track with the English graduation requirements and enroll in a world-language sequence or plan a home-language pathway. |
| Grade 11 (junior year) | Register for the approved language assessment (for example the AAPPL or an ACTFL OPI) or plan the AP or IB exam. Taking it in junior year leaves time to retake if needed. |
| Grade 12 (senior year) | Complete any remaining coursework, submit a portfolio or culminating project if your state requires one, and confirm the counselor has all evidence before graduation. |
The single most common reason a qualified student misses the seal is a missed registration deadline for the language assessment, not a low score. Marking the testing window early, in junior year, is the most reliable safeguard.
Choosing the Right Proof for the Second Language
States usually accept more than one way to demonstrate the other language, and the best choice depends on the student’s profile. A heritage or bilingual student who already speaks the language fluently is often best served by a single proficiency assessment, such as the AAPPL or an OPI, which can verify existing ability without additional coursework. A student in a traditional world-language sequence may find an AP or IB exam the most efficient route, since it doubles as college-preparation. For a language that has no standard exam, most states accept a portfolio scored to an ACTFL level, which opens the seal to speakers of less commonly tested languages. Confirming which options your state approves before choosing a path prevents wasted effort on an assessment that will not count.
Common Mistakes That Cost Students the Seal
Most students who miss the seal do so for avoidable reasons rather than a genuine shortfall in ability. Knowing the common pitfalls in advance is the simplest way to prevent them.
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Missing the registration deadline | Note the assessment window in junior year and register early; a strong student cannot earn the seal if they never sit the exam in time. |
| Preparing for the wrong assessment | Confirm your state’s currently approved exam list before studying, since accepted assessments and cut scores can change from year to year. |
| Underestimating a single domain | In states that require the level in every domain, one weak skill, usually speaking, can hold back an otherwise qualified student. Identify and target the weakest domain early. |
| Leaving the counselor out of the loop | Make sure the counselor or world-language department has all evidence, including any portfolio or project, well before graduation paperwork is finalized. |
None of these require exceptional language ability to avoid. They require planning, which is precisely why the seal rewards students who treat it as a multi-year goal rather than a senior-year task.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you earn the Seal of Biliteracy?
By demonstrating proficiency in English and another language by graduation, following your state’s criteria through assessments, coursework, or a portfolio.
When should students take the language assessment?
Usually in grades 9 to 12; registering in junior or senior year is common, but check your state and school deadlines.
Does it cost anything?
Some assessments carry a fee, though many schools cover it. The seal itself is awarded by the district at no cost to the student.
Can heritage speakers earn it easily?
Often yes, by verifying their existing proficiency through an approved assessment, and in some states through documented schooling in the language.
How do students meet the English requirement?
Most states accept a qualifying score on the state English or ELA assessment, a set GPA in English courses, or an English AP or IB score. English Learners can usually meet it through the state English language proficiency test, such as WIDA ACCESS or the ELPAC, taken during high school.
What most often keeps students from earning the seal?
Usually a missed assessment registration deadline rather than a low score. Planning the language assessment in junior year, with the testing window noted early, is the most reliable way to avoid this.
Which proof of the second language should I choose?
It depends on your profile. Fluent home-language speakers often use a single proficiency assessment; world-language students frequently use an AP or IB exam; and speakers of less commonly tested languages typically use a portfolio scored to an ACTFL level. Confirm your state’s approved options first.
Can I retake the language assessment if I fall short?
Usually yes, subject to the test provider’s rules and your school’s testing schedule. This is why taking the first attempt in junior year is recommended, since it leaves room for a second attempt before graduation.
Related Resources
- What Is the Seal of Biliteracy?
- Seal of Biliteracy Requirements
- Seal of Biliteracy by State
- Benefits of the Seal of Biliteracy
Conclusion
Getting the Seal of Biliteracy is a multi-year plan, not a last-minute test: know your state’s criteria, meet the English requirement, prove the other language through an approved route, and apply on time. For students still building the language, steady speaking and listening practice is what carries them to the bar.
Sources: SealofBiliteracy.org; ACTFL.
The Year-Round Work Behind a Graduation Award
The steps to the Seal look tidy on paper: confirm the English requirement, prove the other language, apply on time. What the checklist hides is that the language proof rests on months of speaking and listening a student either did or did not accumulate before the testing window opened.
That is where good intentions stall. A single course sequence rarely produces enough active output in the target language to clear an AAPPL or OPI bar, and a teacher juggling a full roster cannot give each student the individual talk time the exam quietly assumes.
So schools look for ways to add practice across the years leading up to the assessment, in the language the student is testing in. Telo AI is one example of a tool districts use for this, with separate English, Spanish, and French apps for conversation and feedback between lessons.
See how students build toward the assessment year over year: https://mytelo.ai/how-telo-works/
With that groundwork in place, the application window becomes a formality rather than a scramble. The students who earn the Seal are almost never the ones who prepared last, they are the ones who kept practicing long before the deadline came into view.