Seal of Biliteracy

A student who graduates from high school must have achieved a high level of literacy and fluency in one or more language(s) in addition to English to be awarded the SSB.

The student must demonstrate:

  • Completion of all English language arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average of 2.0 in those classes.
  • Passage of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) for English language arts, or any successor test, administered in grade eleven, at or above the “standard met” achievement level, or at the achievement level determined by the Superintendent for any successor test.
  • Proficiency in one or more languages, other than English, demonstrated through one of the following methods:
    1. Passage of a foreign language Advanced Placement (AP) examination with a score of 3 or higher, or an International Baccalaureate (IB) examination with a score of 4 or more.
    2. Successful completion of a four-year high school course of study in a foreign language, attaining an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher in that course of study, and demonstration of oral proficiency in the language comparable to that required to pass an AP or IB examination.
    3. Passage of a district test with a score of proficient or higher (if no AP examination or off the shelf language tests exists and the school district can certify that the test meets the level of an AP exam), demonstrating proficiency in all of the modes of communication (reading, writing, and speaking) that characterize communication in the language.
    4. Passage of the SAT II foreign language examination with a score of 600 or higher.

In addition to the requirements mentioned above, if the primary language of a pupil is other than English, he or she shall demonstrate English proficiency on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), or any successor English language proficiency assessment, in transition kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades one to twelve, inclusive (EC Section 51461).

For more information, see the California Seal of Biliteracy Booklet here: ssbbooklet