Biliteracy

Updated the criteria required to obtain the State Seal of Biliteracy to make it equitable for all students to obtain, while creating a clear path for all participating Local Educational Agencies to implement. The new criteria expands the options for students to show proficiency in English, removes irrelevant testing criteria from the world language options and honors courses taken outside of the country that have the adequate rigor. In 2024, we celebrate that all 50 states have adopted a State Seal of Biliteracy!

This legislation created grants for districts to expand or initiate dual immersion or developmental bilingual programs PK-12th grade. An appropriation for this bill was contained in the 2019 state budget.

AB 1142 was signed into law September 1, 2017. This legislation revises the criteria for the State Seal of Biliteracy by: 1) Updating the English Language Arts and English Language Proficiency scores related to the CAASPP and ELPAC assessments, 2) Including granting a Seal of Biliteracy to a student speaking a native or indigenous language that doesn’t have a written system and 3) Indicating a level of oral language proficiency when qualifying by studying four years of a world language with a 3.0 GPA or better.

AB 815 (Brownley) established the state Seal of Biliteracy Program to recognize high  school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.  The State Seal of Biliteracy shall be awarded by the State Superintendent of Instruction when students meet the criteria contained in the legislation.  There are 31 states including California plus the District of Columbia Public Schools with a formal State Seal of Biliteracy Program.