Illinois Seal of Biliteracy

The Illinois Seal of Biliteracy was founded in 2013 and has two award levels. Below you will find more information about the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy.

A Seal of Biliteracy is an award that is granted by a school, district, state or other organization. A Seal of Biliteracy recognizes that an individual has attained a certain level of proficiency in two or more languages. A Seal of Biliteracy is typically awarded in the form of a certificate and can be used as a credential to convey an individual’s proficiency in two or more languages. 

Illinois Seal of Biliteracy Overview

Illinois Seal of Biliteracy Accepted Tests and Assessments

Click on a test below to learn more.

DISCLAIMER: Test requirements and usage often change or vary by school, district, county, etc. Check with your school district for up-to-date testing information for the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy. Additional assessments or evidenced-based processes may qualify for the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy that are not shown here.

Illinois Language Affiliates

Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy Legislature

Section 1.442 State Seal of Biliteracy

In accordance with Section 2-3.159 of the School Code, a school district may establish a program to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English, by designating on a student's transcript and high school diploma his or her receipt of the State Seal of Biliteracy, provided that all the conditions of this Section are met. For purposes of this Section, "foreign language" has the meaning prescribed in Section 2-3.159(a) of the School Code.

a) Foreign Language Proficiency

A school district may award the State Seal of Biliteracy to any high school graduate who attains a high level of proficiency, sufficient for meaningful use in college and career (Section 2-3.159 of the School Code), in a language other than English as evidenced by his or her attainment of a composite score of "intermediate high", or its equivalent, on a standardized assessment that addresses the four domains of speaking, writing, listening and reading in the targeted foreign language. For the purposes of this Section, proficiency may be shown using one of the methods outlined in this subsection (a).

1) Assessment Method

A) For purposes of using an assessment to determine proficiency:

i) "Intermediate high" is defined in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012, published by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 200, Alexandria VA 22314 and available at http://www.actfl.org/publications/guidelines‑and‑manuals/actfl-proficiency-guidelines-2012. (No later amendments to or editions of these guidelines are incorporated.)

ii) For the American Sign Language, "intermediate high" is equivalent to meeting progress indicators for grade 12 set forth in the Standards for Learning American Sign Language (2014), published by the American Sign Language Teachers Association, P.O. Box 38, Clinton WA 98236 and available at http://www.aslta.org/wp-content/

uploads/2014/07/National_ASL_Standards.pdf. (No later amendments to or editions of these guidelines are incorporated.)

iii) "Standardized assessment" is one that is available for use on a statewide or national basis and meets generally accepted standards of fairness, validity and reliability as stated in "Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing" (2013), published by the American Educational Research Association, 1430 K Street, N.W., Suite 1200, Washington D.C. 20005. (No later amendments to or editions of these standards are incorporated.)

2) The State Superintendent shall post on its website by July 1 of each year a list of acceptable language assessments (e.g., the ACTFL Assessment of Performance Toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), Advanced Placement (AP) World Language and Culture Exam, Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE)) and the score to be achieved on each that qualifies the student as meeting the criteria set forth in subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) or (ii), as applicable. A school district that chooses to use an assessment to measure foreign language proficiency that is not included on the list shall maintain evidence that the assessment meets the criteria specified in subsection (a)(1)(A)(iii) and either subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) or (ii), as applicable, and make that evidence available to the State Superintendent of Education upon request.

3) Alternative Evidence Method

A school district may choose to award the State Seal of Biliteracy through an alternative evidence method in accordance with this subsecton (a)(3).

A) The alternative evidence method may be used when:

i) a student attains an "intermediate mid" composite score, as defined in the ACTFL guidelines set forth in subsection (a)(1), or its equivalent, on a standardized assessment that addresses the four domains of speaking, writing, listening and reading in the targeted foreign language;

ii) no standardized assessment exists for the targeted foreign language;

iii) evaluating the language proficiency of a student with disabilities for whom the standardized assessment is inappropriate; or

iv) the standardized assessment for the targeted foreign language does not assess one or more of the four domains of speaking, writing, listening and reading.

B) Any alternative evidence method used shall consist of a student portfolio that contains evidence for each component set forth in subsections (a)(3)(C) and (a)(3)(D) that demonstrates proficiency equivalent to an "intermediate high" level in the four domains of speaking, writing, listening and reading.

C) Experience in the Targeted Foreign Language

i) The extent to which the student's language background enables him or her to gain proficiency in the targeted foreign language in one or more of the four domains;

ii) The extent to which the student's participation in intercultural activities provided opportunities to gain proficiency in the targeted foreign language in one or more of the four domains;

iii) The courses taken in the targeted foreign language and the grades received; and/or

iv) The extent to which any time spent in countries where the targeted foreign language is spoken contributed to the student's opportunities to gain proficiency in the targeted foreign language in one or more of the four domains.

D) Work Samples

i) Formal presentations in the targeted foreign language;

ii) Student-produced compositions, articles, papers and other formal documents in the targeted foreign language; and/or

iii) Certificates, diplomas, results from tests or assessments other than those identified under subsection (a) and additional achievements that demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the targeted foreign language.

b) English Proficiency

1) To be eligible to be awarded the State Seal of Biliteracy, each student also shall demonstrate proficiency in English through:

A) Attainment of either a "meets standards" or "exceeds standards" for English language arts on the State assessments administered at the secondary level, as authorized in Section 2-3.64a-5 of the School Code;

B) Attainment of a "proficient" score on the English language proficiency assessment defined at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 228.10 (Transitional Bilingual Education) administered at the secondary level; or

C) Attainment of an "intermediate high" composite score on an assessment in English identified pursuant to subsection (a)(1).

2) The State Superintendent shall post on its website by July 1 of each year a list of acceptable English language assessments (e.g., the TOEFL® test, the ESL (English as a Second Language) AAPPL, ACTFL Assessment of Performance Toward Proficiency in Languages) and the score to be achieved on each that qualifies the student as meeting one of the sets of criteria for proficiency set forth in this subsection (b). A school district that chooses to use an assessment to measure English language proficiency that is not included on the list shall maintain evidence that the assessment meets the criteria specified in subsection (a)(1)(A)(iii) and one of the sets of criteria for proficiency set forth in this subsection (b) and make that evidence available to the State Superintendent of Education upon request.

c) The State Seal of Biliteracy program may offer a State Commendation toward Biliteracy to any student who fails to meet the requirements of subsection (a) but attains a score of "intermediate low", or its equivalent, in the targeted foreign language using the method set forth in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(3).

1) "Intermediate low" is defined in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 referenced in subsection (a)(1).

2) Each student also shall demonstrate a level of proficiency in English through:

A) Attainment of either a "meets standards" or "exceeds standards" for English language arts on the State assessments administered at the secondary level, as authorized in Section 2-3.64a-5 of the School Code;

B) Attainment of a score established for part-time placement in a transitional bilingual education program (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 228.30(c) (Establishment of Programs)) on the English language proficiency assessment defined at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 228.10 (Transitional Bilingual Education) that is administered at the secondary level; or

C) Attainment of an "intermediate low" composite score on an assessment in English identified pursuant to subsection (a).

3) The State Superintendent shall post on its website by July 1 of each year a list of acceptable assessments (e.g., the ACTFL Assessment of Performance Toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), Advanced Placement (AP) World Language and Culture Exam, Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE)) and the score to be achieved on each that qualifies the student as meeting the criteria set forth in this subsection (c) for foreign language and English language proficiency. A school district that chooses to use an assessment that is not included on the list shall maintain evidence that the assessment meets the criteria specified in subsection (a)(1)(A)(iii) and the applicable criteria set forth in this subsection (c) and make that evidence available to the State Superintendent of Education upon request.

d) In accordance with Section 2-3.159(g) of the School Code, the school district shall place a designation of a qualifying student's receipt of the State Seal of Biliteracy in the student's permanent record on the academic transcript as defined in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 375 (Student Records) and include the designation on the student's diploma. A school district also shall place a designation of a qualifying student's receipt of the State Commendation toward Biliteracy both in the permanent record on the academic transcript and on the student's diploma. The designations shall list each of the targeted foreign languages for which the State Seal of Biliteracy or State Commendation toward Biliteracy is being awarded. The State Board of Education shall make an electronic facsimile of the State Seal of Biliteracy and the State Commendation toward Biliteracy available to school districts for this purpose.

e) A school district that chooses to participate in the State Seal of Biliteracy program shall meet the requirements of this subsection (e).

1) A participating school district shall notify the State Board of Education of its participation by October 1 of each year. A district that elects to participate after October 1 shall notify the State Board of Education of its participation no later than 45 calendar days prior to the issuance of any State Seals or State Commendations.

A) A school district electing to participate after October 1 shall include in its notification to the State Board of Education evidence that the district has met all of the requirements set forth in this subsection (e).

B) A district that fails to submit the proper notification within the timeframes provided shall be prohibited from awarding the State Seal and State Commendation for that school year.

2) A participating district shall designate at least one individual to serve as coordinator of the State Seal of Biliteracy program and include the individual's name and contact information in the notice provided pursuant to subsection (e)(1). The individual assigned to serve as the coordinator of the program shall:

A) Hold a professional educator license endorsed in an administrative area issued pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25 (Educator Licensure); and

B) Participate in training approved by the State Board of Education prior to awarding the State Seal of Biliteracy awarded under the provisions of Section 2-3.159 of the School Code and this Section and the State Commendation toward Biliteracy awarded under the provisions of this Section.

3) Using a format prescribed by the State Superintendent of Education, a participating school shall submit an annual report to the State Board of Education no later than 30 days after the end of the school year that includes, but is not limited to, identification of each student awarded the State Seal of Biliteracy or the State Commendation toward Biliteracy, targeted foreign language or languages for which the State Seal of Biliteracy or State Commendation toward Biliteracy was awarded to the student and the method the student used to demonstrate proficiency.

4) A participating school district shall make available information about the State Seal of Biliteracy program to parents and students by posting on the district's website, if the district maintains a website, and in the student handbook the following information:

A) General information about the State Seal of Biliteracy program and the opportunity for students to participate;

B) A description of the process a student would use to demonstrate proficiency in the targeted foreign language, including details about any alternative evidence that may be required under the provisions of subsection (a)(3), if applicable;

C) An estimate of the costs, if known, that students might incur to demonstrate proficiency using either of the methods under subsection (a); and

D) The name and contact information for any individuals designated to serve as the coordinator of the State Seal of Biliteracy program.

(Source: Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 13411, effective September 24, 2015)

THE GLOBAL SEAL OF BILITERACY

The Global Seal of Biliteracy complements and supports the individual state Seals of Biliteracy. The organization is committed to expanding the opportunity to demonstrate and document one's bilingualism. The Global Seal of Biliteracy credential meets or exceeds the requirements of all existing U.S. state Seal programs, and offers a uniform standard to recognize language skills at levels that are meaningful for academic and workplace environments. It allows recipients to showcase their language skills to any school or employer across state lines and national borders. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is proof of your language proficiency at one of three fluency levels.