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The Nevada State Seal of Biliteracy is awarded through participating Nevada school districts and charter schools to graduates who complete English language arts with at least a 2.0 GPA and demonstrate proficiency in another language. It was created by AB 166 in 2015 (NRS 388.591 and 388.593), and it is growing fast: 2,379 seals in 2024-25, in 57 languages overall, including Northern Paiute. This guide covers the requirements, the tests and scores, English learners and the Great Basin Native languages.
Table of contents
What the Nevada Seal of Biliteracy Is
Quick answer: the Nevada State Seal of Biliteracy recognizes graduates who complete all English language arts courses with at least a 2.0 GPA and earn AP 3, IB 4, or a qualifying score on an approved language exam. The Nevada Department of Education’s best practice is “Intermediate Mid level in EVERY communication skill… Scores are not averaged.”
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administered by | Nevada Department of Education, Office of Teaching and Learning, through participating districts and charters |
| Law | NRS 388.591 and 388.593 (AB 166, 2015, amended 2017) |
| English | All ELA courses with at least a 2.0 unweighted GPA |
| World language | AP 3, IB 4, or an approved exam at Intermediate Mid in every skill |
| Test timing | Not before grade 9; grades 11-12 recommended |
| Seals | 1,887 (2022-23), 2,189 (2023-24), 2,379 (2024-25) |
Nevada Seal of Biliteracy Requirements
- English: “Successfully completes all courses of study in English language arts… with at least a 2.0 grade point average, on a 4.0 grading scale.” For a student whose primary language is not English, the statute adds proficiency “on an assessment designated by the Department”; NDE’s 2024 memo applies this only when the GPA or coursework is not met.
- World language: AP 3 or higher or IB 4 or higher, in any grade, or an exam approved by the district or charter board, at Intermediate Mid in every skill.
Districts may set stricter rules. Where no test exists for a language, an alternative method goes to NDE for approval.
Approved Tests and Scores (September 2025 List)
| Assessment | Minimum |
|---|---|
| STAMP 4S, Monolingual, ASL, WS | 5 |
| Avant SuperLanguage | 5 |
| AAPPL Form B | I-4 in all domains |
| OPI plus WPT | Intermediate Mid |
| ALTA | ILR 1+ |
| AP; IB | 3; 4 |
How these scores compare with other states is in Seal of Biliteracy test.
Great Basin Native Languages
NDE worked with tribes to build tests in Paiute, Western Shoshone and Washoe, announced in September 2024. The first two Northern Paiute seals were awarded to Washoe County students in June 2025.
How Districts Take Part
A district or charter school participates by notifying the Superintendent of Public Instruction “of its intent to participate,” then tests students and awards the seal. NDE has not published a statewide deadline; districts set their own calendars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Nevada Seal of Biliteracy requirements?
All English language arts courses with at least a 2.0 GPA, plus AP 3, IB 4 or Intermediate Mid in every skill on an approved exam in another language.
What AAPPL or STAMP score does Nevada require?
AAPPL Form B I-4 in all domains, or STAMP 5.
Are scores averaged in Nevada?
No. NDE’s best practice is Intermediate Mid in every skill; scores are not averaged.
When should students test?
Not before grade 9 for non-AP/IB exams; NDE recommends grades 11-12.
Can students earn the seal in a Native language?
Yes. Nevada has built tests in Paiute, Western Shoshone and Washoe, and the first Northern Paiute seals were awarded in 2025.
Related Resources
- Seal of Biliteracy Test
- Utah Seal of Biliteracy
- California Seal of Biliteracy
- How to Get the Seal of Biliteracy
- Seal of Biliteracy by State
Conclusion
Nevada’s seal pairs a modest English bar, a 2.0 GPA in ELA courses, with a strict language rule: Intermediate Mid in every skill, not averaged. Its growth and its work with Great Basin tribes make it one of the more interesting state programs to watch.
Sources: NDE, Seal of Biliteracy Information and Criteria; NDE, best practices memo (October 2024); NDE, assessment list; NRS 388; NDE press release, 2025. Verified September 28, 2026.
Every Skill, Not the Average
Nevada does not average scores, so the weakest skill 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 seal without averages rewards the skill that gets the least practice.
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