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CA State Seal of Biliteracy

 

The State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB), marked by a gold seal on the diploma or transcript, recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages in addition to English. The SSB is one indicator of accomplishment for future employers and college admissions. Visit the CDE website to an external site, for more details and FAQs Links to an external site.

 

The State Seal of Biliteracy is awarded at the end of a student's senior year;

however, the requirements for the SSB can be met at any time in high school.

 

Applications for Seniors are due Friday, April 25th, 2025

 
The completed application (accessed below), including signatures and all required documents (AP score OR Teacher Oral Verification Proficiency Form), must be given directly to your school counselor.  As part of the application packet, please also include a signed transcript release form for coursework and GPA verification. 
PUSD has adopted the California State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB) to be awarded to our high school seniors. The SSB provides recognition to high school students who are fluent in two or more languages. For students to be considered candidates for the SSB, they must meet the criteria outlined below. Once the criteria have been met, the SSB insignia will be placed on the student's diploma, and noted on their final high school transcript.
 
To earn the California State Seal of Biliteracy, you must be a senior and meet ONE criteria in each
section. Please return this application, your transcript, and all other applicable verification documents
(copies of score reports) to the counseling staff at your school no later than April 25, 2025.
 
Section 1 - ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: CHOOSE ONE METHOD
 
COURSEWORK
  • Completed four years of English courses with an overall GPA of 3.0 or above in those classes.
    Please provide a copy of your transcript with this application.   
- OR -
ASSESSMENT
  • Option 1 - State Assessment: Pass CAASPP for English language arts in 11th grade with
    “Standards Met” or above
  • Option 2 - Advanced Placement: Pass AP Language and Composition examination, AP English
    Literature and Composition examination, or AP Seminar examination with a score of 3 or higher
  • Option 3 - International Baccalaureate (IB): Pass an English IB examination with a score of 4
    or higher.
  • Option 4 - SAT: Achieve a score of 480 or above on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
    section of the SAT
 
Section 2 - WORLD LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: CHOOSE ONE METHOD
 
COURSEWORK
  • Complete world language 7/8 or AP with an overall unweighted GPA of 3.0 AND complete the
    oral language proficiency assessment. The oral proficiency is required for coursework only
- OR -
ASSESSMENT
  • Option 1 - Advanced Placement: Pass a world language AP examination with a score of 3 or
    higher.
  • Option 2 - International Baccalaureate (IB): Pass an IB world language examination with a
    score of 4 or higher
  • Option 3 - ACTFL: Pass an ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and Oral Proficiency Interview
    (OPI) with scores of intermediate mid or higher.
  • Option 4 - AVANT: Pass an AVANT language examination with a 6 or higher
  • Option 5 - Tagalog: Pass the PUSD-approved Tagalog assessment with a score of 75% or higher
    on the reading assessment and Stage 2 “High” or higher on the Listening, Speaking, and Writing
 
It is the student's responsibility to apply for the California State Seal of Biliteracy by submitting all required paperwork by the deadline of April 25, 2025, for the class of 2025.
 
Application Forms and Flyers 
CA Seal of Biliteracy Application
Oral Proficiency Verification 2025
SSB Requirements
Transcript Request Form
 
 

STAMP 4s Language Proficiency Exam Testing Information

STAMP 4s Examination Q & ALinks to an external site.

 

For Qualifying* Seniors Only

 

Students WHO HAVE NOT met the following world language criteria for the State Seal of Biliteracy are eligible to take the AVANT Language Exam. In other words, if any of the following apply to you, please do not sign up for the AVANT Language Exam.

 

  • Passed an AP class with a 3.0 average and the Oral proficiency exam
  • Passed a 7/8 world language class with a 3.0 average and the Oral proficiency exam
  • Passed a world language AP Exam or are scheduled for the exam
  • Passed an SAT II language exam
  • Passed the district-approved Tagalog language assessment

 

If the above criteria do not apply to you, and you want to apply for the State Seal of Biliteracy, please complete the AVANT Language Exam interest list. (TBD)

 

Complete the interest list by TBD

 

AVANT Test Dates: TBD

Testing Location: Rancho Bernardo High School 

AVANT Test Time: 8:30-12:30 p.m.

What do you need on test day? 

 

*Seniors must meet all English proficiency requirements to be eligible to take a STAMP 4s examination.
 

If you have further questions, please email your DNHS School Counselor.