CA State Seal of Biliteracy
Application deadline is in April of your senior year. 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. In order 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 26th, 2024.
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 26th, 2024.
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 26, 2024 for the class of 2024.
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 does not apply to you, and you want to apply for the State Seal of Biliteracy, please complete the AVANT Language Exam interest list. Here is the LINK TO THE INTEREST LIST.
Complete the interest list by March 29, 2024
*Seniors must meet all English proficiency requirements to be eligible to take a STAMP 4s examination.