State/District Process to Award the Seal of Biliteracy

Awarding of the Seal of Biliteracy should be done by high school graduation. States implementing the Seal of Biliteracy should determine practical methods for recording the name and identification of students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy. It is recommended that schools send the names of students receiving the Seal and the language(s) of biliteracy to their state department of education.

Each state may determine the process for awarding the Seal of Biliteracy, including the following:

• The Seal may be added to the high school diploma or transcript as well as displayed on a certificate or medal awarded to the student
• The Seal may be noted on the high school transcript as this is the credential that is viewed by colleges and universities and future employers
• States may wish to encourage local districts and schools to make the awarding of the Seal of Biliteracy visible at graduation and any senior award ceremonies
• States may set up their own process for collecting, recording, and maintaining the data on students receiving the Seal of Biliteracy and the evidence upon which it is based including the languages other than English in which students earned the Seal and the number of students earning the Seal who are former English learners
• States may provide a process that determines how a learner under certain circumstances could complete the requirements to demonstrate proficiency up to one year following high school graduation.