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The Maryland Seal of Biliteracy is the state’s official recognition, placed on the diploma and transcript, that a graduate has attained proficiency in English and at least one other language. The program is defined in Maryland regulation (COMAR 13A.03.07) and administered by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). This guide covers the requirements, the approved assessments, and how students and districts make the seal happen.
Table of contents
What the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Is
Quick answer: the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy is a state award for graduating seniors who demonstrate proficiency in English and in a world language, verified through assessments from MSDE’s approved lists. It is established in COMAR 13A.03.07 and appears on the diploma and transcript.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Governing regulation | COMAR 13A.03.07 (Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Program) |
| English evidence | Required score on an MSDE-approved English language arts assessment (e.g., English 10 MCAP) |
| World language threshold | ACTFL Intermediate High or higher (AP score of 4-5 qualifies) |
| Approved assessments | MSDE publishes an approved world-language assessment list (AP, ACTFL assessments such as AAPPL and OPI, Avant STAMP, and others) |
| Multilingual learners | MSDE has moved to recognize WIDA ACCESS to broaden access for English Learners |
Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Requirements
Maryland uses a two-part structure that mirrors most state programs.
- English proficiency: meet the required score on an assessment from MSDE’s approved English language arts list. For most students this is the English 10 MCAP assessment taken as part of graduation requirements.
- World language proficiency: reach at least ACTFL Intermediate High on an assessment from MSDE’s approved world-language list. A 4 or 5 on an AP world language exam meets the bar, as do qualifying scores on ACTFL assessments (AAPPL, OPI) and Avant STAMP.
The Intermediate High threshold matches states like Illinois and Massachusetts, and sits above the Intermediate Mid bar used in Virginia. For the general framework behind these levels, see Seal of Biliteracy requirements.
How to Earn It in Maryland
- Confirm participation: check that your district participates and which counselor coordinates the seal.
- Pick the assessment: AP language students usually rely on their exam score; heritage speakers and students of languages without an AP exam typically use AAPPL or STAMP.
- Schedule with margin: take the world-language assessment in junior or early senior year so a retake is possible.
- Verify and receive: the district confirms both requirements and affixes the seal at graduation.
The Participation Gap Maryland Is Working to Close
Maryland’s seal has historically been concentrated in a few systems: in the program’s early years, the large majority of the roughly 1,200 seals awarded statewide went to Montgomery County graduates. That pattern reflects program awareness and assessment access more than student ability, and it is why MSDE’s recognition of WIDA ACCESS matters: it opens a pathway for English Learners across the state to have their bilingualism formally credentialed. Nationally, about 38 percent of seals go to current or former English Learners, and districts that actively identify EL candidates see the largest gains. The playbook for doing so is covered in our complete Seal of Biliteracy guide.
Benefits for Maryland Students
The seal appears on the diploma and transcript, where college admissions offices see it directly. Many universities award world-language credit or placement for verified proficiency, and bilingualism is a documented advantage in the Washington-Baltimore job market, one of the country’s most multilingual metro areas. For the broader case, see the benefits of the Seal of Biliteracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy requirements?
A qualifying score on an MSDE-approved English language arts assessment plus ACTFL Intermediate High or higher on an approved world-language assessment, such as an AP exam (4-5), AAPPL, OPI, or Avant STAMP.
What proficiency level does Maryland require?
ACTFL Intermediate High in the world language. That is the same bar as Illinois and Massachusetts, and higher than Virginia’s Intermediate Mid.
Can English Learners earn the Maryland seal?
Yes. English Learners qualify like any student, and MSDE’s move to recognize WIDA ACCESS strengthens the pathway by letting the state’s English proficiency assessment for ELs serve as evidence.
When should students take the language assessment?
Junior year or early senior year, so scores arrive before graduation processing and a retake remains possible if one domain falls short.
Does the Maryland seal cost anything?
The seal itself is free. Some assessments carry testing fees, which many districts cover.
Related Resources
- What Is the Seal of Biliteracy?
- Seal of Biliteracy Requirements
- How to Get the Seal of Biliteracy
- Seal of Biliteracy by State
- WIDA ACCESS Explained
Conclusion
Maryland’s seal follows the classic two-part model, English evidence plus ACTFL Intermediate High in a world language, with a clear regulation behind it and a widening on-ramp for English Learners through WIDA ACCESS. The opportunity in Maryland is participation: the credential is established, the assessments are in place, and districts that promote the pathway early see far more of their bilingual students graduate with the seal.
Sources: COMAR 13A.03.07, Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Program; MSDE Approved World Language Assessments; MSDE Seal of Biliteracy FAQ.
Building the Proficiency the Assessment Verifies
Every requirement above is a checkpoint, but the checkpoint only confirms what years of language use built. The students who clear Intermediate High comfortably are the ones who spoke and listened at volume, not just completed coursework.
That is the hard part for schools. A world-language class of 25 gives each student a few minutes of real speaking per period, and heritage speakers strong in conversation often lack practice with academic reading and writing. The gap is capacity, not curriculum.
Districts serious about growing their seal numbers add individual practice in both languages throughout the pathway. Telo AI is one example schools use, with adaptive conversation and feedback in English, Spanish, and French.
See how schools build the proficiency the seal certifies: https://mytelo.ai/how-telo-works/
A seal program is a promise that the proficiency is real. The practice that makes it real is what turns eligible students into earners.