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The Seal of Biliteracy is an award placed on a student’s high school diploma or transcript to recognize that they have attained proficiency in two or more languages by graduation. Once a California idea, it is now offered by all 50 states and Washington, D.C. This guide explains what the award is, who offers it, how students earn it, and why it matters for students and districts.
Table of contents
What the Seal of Biliteracy Is
Quick answer: the Seal of Biliteracy is a formal recognition, awarded by a state, district, or school, that a student has reached a high level of proficiency in English plus at least one other language by the time they graduate from high school. It appears on the diploma or transcript.
A Brief History
The award originated in California, which became the first state to adopt it, effective January 1, 2012. The idea spread quickly: as of 2026, all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer a State Seal of Biliteracy, though each sets its own criteria.
The Seal of Biliteracy by the Numbers
The award has grown from a California experiment into one of the fastest-growing credentials in American education.
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| States offering a State Seal of Biliteracy | All 50 + Washington, D.C. | Seal of Biliteracy National Report |
| Seals awarded in 2021-2022 | 147,937 | 2023 National Report |
| Seals awarded in 2018 (for comparison) | About 91,000 | National reporting |
| Share awarded to current or former English Learners | 38% | 2023 National Report |
| First state to adopt (effective date) | California, January 1, 2012 | California Department of Education |
| Most commonly awarded language | Spanish | National reporting |
Two numbers deserve a district leader’s attention. Growth: awards rose by more than 60 percent between 2018 and 2022, and the trend has continued as the last states launched their programs. And equity: nearly four in ten seals go to current or former English Learners, which makes the seal one of the few statewide credentials that formally values the home languages EL students bring to school.
How Students Earn It
Most states require two things: evidence of English proficiency (often meeting the state’s English language arts graduation requirements) and evidence of proficiency in another language, demonstrated through an approved assessment or coursework. Common second-language assessments include AP and IB exams, the ACTFL assessments (such as the AAPPL and the Oral Proficiency Interview), and Avant STAMP. See Seal of Biliteracy requirements and how to get the Seal of Biliteracy.
It Varies by State
Because each state sets its own criteria, the exact proficiency levels and accepted assessments differ. See our Seal of Biliteracy by state guide, or the state pages for California, New York, Illinois, and Florida.
How Requirements Compare in the Largest States
Every state applies the same core idea, proficiency in English plus another language, but the thresholds and accepted evidence differ. The table compares the states where most seals are awarded.
| State | Typical world-language evidence | Notable feature |
|---|---|---|
| California | AP 3+, IB 4+, or approved assessment | The original program; largest volume of seals |
| Illinois | ACTFL Intermediate High (e.g., AAPPL, STAMP) | Public universities must award course credit |
| New York | Points system across criteria | Portfolio options alongside exams |
| Florida | AP, IB, AICE, or approved assessment | Gold and Silver seal tiers |
| Massachusetts | ACTFL Intermediate High equivalent | Seal with Distinction at higher proficiency |
| Michigan | Approved assessment or course evidence | Aligned to ACTFL Intermediate High |
For the full picture, the exact criteria in each state are covered in Seal of Biliteracy by state, and the assessment thresholds in Seal of Biliteracy requirements.
What the Research Says About Earning the Seal
The seal is young enough that rigorous research is only now arriving, and the early findings are encouraging. A 2024 study in Foreign Language Annals by Davin and colleagues examined postgraduation outcomes and found graduates valued the seal as a signal of identity and skill, with employers and colleges increasingly recognizing it. A federal study of New Mexico’s program by REL Southwest offered one of the first quantitative looks at who earns seals and how earning one relates to college outcomes, part of a broader research base linking multilingualism to stronger college enrollment.
The honest caveat is that causal evidence is still thin: researchers can show who earns the seal and what follows, but isolating the seal’s own effect from the abilities of the students who earn it remains difficult. What is well established is the value of the underlying skill. The seal’s job is to make that skill visible.
Why It Matters
For students, the award signals bilingualism to colleges and employers and can earn college language credit. For districts, it validates bilingual education and dual language programs and motivates language study. See the benefits of the Seal of Biliteracy.
The Two Common Paths to the Seal
Although the criteria differ by state, students generally reach the seal along one of two paths, and knowing which one applies clarifies where the effort belongs.
| Path | Who it fits and how it works |
|---|---|
| Heritage or bilingual path | For students who already speak a language at home. They typically verify existing proficiency through an approved assessment, and some states also accept documented schooling in the language. The strength is usually speaking and listening; the growth area is often academic reading and writing. |
| World-language learner path | For students building a language through school. They usually combine a multi-year course sequence with an AP, IB, or proficiency assessment. The strength is often reading and grammar; the growth area is usually speaking. |
Both paths converge on the same standard: functional proficiency in English and at least one other language, verified rather than assumed. The seal does not care how a student built the proficiency, only that an approved measure confirms it.
From a Local Idea to a National Standard
The award did not begin as legislation. The advocacy coalition Californians Together developed the concept in 2008 and spent several years persuading schools and lawmakers to adopt it. California passed enabling legislation in 2011, and the first seals were awarded to more than 10,000 graduating seniors in spring 2012. New York adopted its own version the same year, and the model spread steadily until, by 2024, all 50 states and the District of Columbia offered a State Seal of Biliteracy.
That history matters for how the award is read today. Because each state wrote its own rule, the seal is a shared idea expressed in 51 different sets of criteria. A graduate in one state may earn it through Advanced Placement scores, while a graduate in another earns it through a points system or a portfolio. The common thread is the standard the award represents: functional proficiency in English and at least one other language, verified rather than assumed.
How Districts Build a Strong Seal Program
For a district, the seal is not just a graduation-day sticker; it is a goal that organizes a language program. The districts that award the most seals tend to do four things.
- Identify candidates early. Home language surveys and world-language enrollment identify potential earners by grade 9, not senior year. Nearly 4 in 10 seals go to current or former English Learners, so the EL roster is the first place to look.
- Publish the pathway. Students and families should know by early high school which assessments count, what levels are required, and when to test. Some states offer pathway awards in earlier grades that keep students motivated.
- Schedule assessments deliberately. Most assessments are best taken junior or senior year, with time to retake. Districts that leave testing to chance lose eligible students to logistics.
- Build the proficiency, especially speaking. The most common shortfall for world-language learners is speaking; for heritage speakers it is academic reading and writing. Programs that add regular oral practice in both languages produce more earners than programs that only add a test date.
The costs are modest, mainly assessment fees that many districts cover, and the return is a visible, state-recognized outcome for bilingual and dual-language programs. Districts using bilingual education or dual-language models can treat seal counts as a program KPI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
An award on a high school diploma or transcript recognizing that a student has attained proficiency in English plus at least one other language by graduation.
How many states have the Seal of Biliteracy?
As of 2026, all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer a State Seal of Biliteracy, each with its own criteria.
Is the Seal of Biliteracy worth it?
Yes for many students: it documents bilingualism for colleges and employers, can earn college language credit, and recognizes a valuable skill at no cost.
When did the Seal of Biliteracy start?
California was the first state to adopt it, effective January 1, 2012; it has since spread to all 50 states and D.C.
Who actually awards the seal?
In most states the seal is granted at the district level and applied to the diploma and transcript at graduation, while the state education agency sets the criteria a district must follow.
When do students demonstrate the proficiency?
Typically during grades 9 through 12, with the language assessment often scheduled in the junior or senior year so results arrive before graduation. Some states also offer an earlier pathway award or commendation for students on track.
Does the Seal of Biliteracy cost anything?
The seal itself is awarded at no cost. Some approved proficiency assessments carry a testing fee, though many districts cover it for their students.
Which languages qualify?
Any language for which a state accepts an approved assessment, course sequence, or portfolio. Spanish is the most commonly awarded language nationwide, but states also recognize languages such as Chinese, Arabic, French, Korean, Vietnamese, and many others, including American Sign Language in several states.
Do colleges recognize it?
Many do, granting world-language credit or advanced placement, though policies vary by institution and state. A few states, such as Illinois, require public universities to award credit for the seal.
How many students earn the Seal of Biliteracy each year?
147,937 graduates earned a seal in the 2021-2022 school year, up from about 91,000 in 2018, according to the National Seal of Biliteracy Report. Totals have continued to grow as the final states launched their programs.
How many seals go to English Learners?
About 38 percent of seals are awarded to current or former English Learners. The seal is one of the few statewide credentials that formally recognizes the home languages EL students bring to school.
What is the difference between the State Seal and the Global Seal of Biliteracy?
The State Seal is the official award defined by each state and placed on the diploma or transcript. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is a separate, privately issued credential that certifies proficiency independently of state criteria and can be earned outside high school. Many students qualify for both with the same assessment scores.
Does the seal appear on the transcript?
Yes, in most states the seal is affixed to the diploma and noted on the official transcript, which is how colleges see it during admissions.
Related Resources
- Seal of Biliteracy Requirements
- How to Get the Seal of Biliteracy
- Benefits of the Seal of Biliteracy
- Seal of Biliteracy by State
- What Is Bilingual Education?
Conclusion
The Seal of Biliteracy turns bilingualism into a recognized credential, now available in every state. For students it is a low-cost way to document a valuable skill; for districts it is proof that language programs work, and a goal that motivates the sustained practice biliteracy requires.
Sources: SealofBiliteracy.org; 2023 National Seal of Biliteracy Report; California Department of Education; Davin et al., Foreign Language Annals (2024); IES, REL Southwest New Mexico study.
What Turns a Diploma Seal Into Real Bilingualism
The award is a small mark on a transcript, but it stands for something large: a graduate who can actually function in two languages. For that mark to mean anything, the bilingualism behind it has to be real, and real bilingualism is built over years of using both languages, not certified at the last minute.
This is where many students hit a ceiling. Coursework introduces a language, but proficiency comes from speaking and listening at volume, and a full classroom rarely gives any one student enough of that individual practice.
Schools that take the Seal seriously look for ways to add that practice throughout a student’s years, in both program languages. Telo AI is one example districts use, with separate English, Spanish, and French apps for conversation and feedback.
See how schools build the bilingualism the Seal recognizes: https://mytelo.ai/how-telo-works/
When the underlying skill is genuine, the credential simply confirms what a student already lives. The Seal is worth most in the districts where it certifies real ability rather than a threshold barely cleared.