Our Story

The State Seal of Biliteracy movement has swept across the United States since it was first created in the State of California in 2011. Today, a majority of states offer a State Seal of Biliteracy to provide recognition for students who demonstrate proficiency in both English and a second language. However, in most states, private, charter, independent, college, and homeschoolers are not eligible to receive the Seal of Biliteracy. The Global Seal realizes the value of language credentials and was established to provide an opportunity for ALL language users and students to earn recognition for their language proficiency skills. The Global Seal of Biliteracy by design is inclusive, embracing all languages and learners, with the intent to provide equal access and expanded opportunity.

Our globe logo captures that goal with its open borders. Inside the globe are circles that include the words (clockwise starting from the top): read in Japanese, capable in Spanish and Portuguese, fluent in Chinese, talent in Korean, fluency in English, competent in Amharic, and listen in Arabic. These languages represent each continent and their meanings show the diversity of skills and attributes those who earn the Global Seal possess. The circles intersect and connect as a metaphor for the Global Seal and the advantages of being bilingual in a multicultural world. So, we ask, where will your Global Seal of Biliteracy take you?

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““We believe that no matter what language you speak, how you learned it, or where you live, every multilingual person deserves the chance to showcase their language proficiency to schools and employers. This new program closes the “opportunity gap” that exists for language learners who do not have access to state-sponsored Seal of Biliteracy programs. For the first time there is a pathway for everyone to earn their language passport to local and global success.””

— Linda Egnatz, Global Seal of Biliteracy Executive Director