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The Iowa Seal of Biliteracy is awarded through participating Iowa school districts to graduates who show proficiency in English and at least one other language. It was created in 2018 (SF 475) and is now in Iowa Code 256.9(59), and it recognizes “two or more world languages, one of which may be American sign language, though one of which must be English.” Iowa’s bar is “Intermediate,” one of the most reachable in the country, and English learners can use ELPA21 for the English side. This guide covers the requirements, tests and scores, and the district calendar.
Table of contents
What the Iowa Seal of Biliteracy Is
Quick answer: the Iowa Seal of Biliteracy is a state seal awarded at graduation to students who meet an English benchmark and score at the ACTFL Intermediate level in another language. Participation “shall be voluntary” for districts, which notify the Department of Education and receive the electronic seal.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administered by | Iowa Department of Education, through participating districts |
| Law | SF 475 (2018); Iowa Code 256.9(59) |
| English | One test: ACT, SAT, AP, ISASP, ELPA21, TOEFL, AAPPL, STAMP or Accuplacer ESL |
| World language level | A score that “mirrors the ACTFL’s Intermediate level” |
| When | Qualify any time in high school; awarded at graduation |
| Recipients | 1,065 in 2021-22, the latest published count |
The English Requirement
One of: ACT English 18; SAT English 470; AP English Language or Literature 3; ISASP English Language Arts (grades 9-11) Proficient; ELPA21 in grades 9-12 with “All domains… 4 or 5, which equates to an overall proficiency of 3”; TOEFL total 80 with no part under 17; AAPPL I-2 on all components; STAMP 5 on all components; or Accuplacer ESL 70. The ELPA21 route lets English learners use the test they already take each year.
World Language Tests and Scores
| Assessment | Minimum |
|---|---|
| AAPPL; ALIRA | I-2 |
| STAMP, STAMP Monolingual, SuperLanguage, ALTA, NEWL, OPI or OPIc plus WPT | Intermediate Mid |
| STAMP WS | Intermediate Mid, with reading and listening assessed separately |
| AP | 3 |
| IB | 4 (IB students only) |
| DELE, DSD, DELF, SIELE | B1 |
| ASLPI; SLPI | 3; Intermediate |
| LAS Links Español | 3 |
| Languages without a test | District portfolio review in all four domains |
The AAPPL cut of I-2 is among the lowest of any state. How it compares is in Seal of Biliteracy test.
The District Calendar
- Fall: the district notifies the Department of its intent and names a coordinator in the BEDS collection.
- By February 1: the district receives the electronic seal.
- Spring: the district reports recipients and languages in SRI or BEDS.
Iowa is also an ELPA21 state, so the English learners who earn the seal are the same students whose ELPA21 results a district already tracks; see ELPA21 proficiency levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Iowa Seal of Biliteracy requirements?
An English benchmark on one listed test, and an Intermediate-level score in another language on an approved test or through a district portfolio.
What AAPPL score does Iowa require?
I-2, for both the English and the world language AAPPL routes.
Can English learners use ELPA21?
Yes: ELPA21 in grades 9-12 with 4 or 5 in all domains meets the English requirement.
Does ASL count in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa Code names American Sign Language, assessed with the ASLPI or SLPI.
When is the Iowa seal awarded?
Students may qualify at any point in high school, but the seal is awarded at graduation.
Related Resources
- Seal of Biliteracy Test
- ELPA21 Explained
- Missouri Seal of Biliteracy
- How to Get the Seal of Biliteracy
- Seal of Biliteracy by State
Conclusion
Iowa’s seal sets a reachable bar, Intermediate with an AAPPL cut of I-2, and gives English learners a direct English route through ELPA21. The limit is participation: the seal exists only where a district opts in each fall.
Sources: Iowa Department of Education, Biliteracy Seal; Iowa Seal of Biliteracy guide (December 16, 2025); Iowa Code 256.9. Verified September 28, 2026.
A Reachable Bar Still Needs Speaking
Iowa’s Intermediate bar is within reach of most students who genuinely use a second language. Classroom learners who miss it usually miss on 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 lower bar widens the pool. Practice is what moves students into it.
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