The State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB) is an award given by a school, district, or county office of education to high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.
California Education Code sections 51460–51464 establish the SSB program and its requirements. Per Assembly Bill No. 815 (AB-815, Brownley, Chapter 618, Statutes of 2011), the SSB became effective Jan. 1, 2012 and it was amended in 2017 per Assembly Bill No. 1142 (AB-1142) and by Assembly Bill No. 370 (AB-370) effective January 1, 2024. These requirements apply to all students seeking the SSB beginning with 2024 graduates.
Requirements for the Seal of Biliteracy
To earn the SSB, students must demonstrate proficiency in English and one or more additional languages. Students may demonstrate proficiency through either coursework or assessment options.
Demonstrating English Language Proficiency
Coursework Option: Students may demonstrate English language proficiency through coursework by completing all English language arts (ELA) requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above in those classes.
Completion of one or more ELA courses at a public higher education institution or an independent institution of higher education…with a grade equivalent to a GPA of 3.0 or above may be used to satisfy one or more course requirements.
(EC Section 51461[a][1][A])
Assessment Option: Students selecting this option, can choose one of the following assessments:
- Option 1: State Assessment: Pass the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress for English language arts administered in grade 11, at or above the “standard met” achievement level.
- Option 2: Advanced Placement (AP) Assessment: Pass an English AP examination with a score of 3 or higher (AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature or Composition, or AP Seminar).
- Option 3: International Baccalaureate (IB) Assessment: 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.
(EC Section 51461[a][1][B]–[D])
Additional English Proficiency Requirement for English Learners Only:
In addition to the requirements mentioned above, students who are classified as English learners must attain an oral language composite score of level 4 on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).
Demonstrating Target Language Proficiency
Coursework Option: Students may demonstrate English language proficiency through coursework by successfully completing a four-year course of study of content in a world language at a high school or higher level attaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or above in that course of study, and oral proficiency in the language comparable to that required to pass the AP, IB, or ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).
This course of study could include:
- Courses completed in another country in a language other than English
- Courses completed at a college or university through dual enrollment
(EC Section 51461[a][2][B])
Assessment Option: Students selecting this option, can choose one of the following assessments:
- Option 1: AP: Pass a world language AP examination with a score of 3 or higher,
- Option 2: IB: Pass an IB 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, or
- Option 4: District-Approved Assessment: Pass a school district language examination that, at a minimum, assesses speaking, reading, and writing in a language other than English at the proficient level or higher.
(EC Section 51461[a][2][A] and [C]).
For more information, visit the CDE Seal of Biliteracy page.
The Seal of Biliteracy in San Diego County
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award recognizing students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. By celebrating their language learning achievements, students recognize the value of their academic success and appreciate the tangible benefits of being multilingual.
The following San Diego County districts and charter schools have adopted the State Seal of Biliteracy (*) and/or a Pathway to Biliteracy (**):
2023
- Harbor Springs Charter School*
2022
- Audeo Charter School*
- Charter School of San Diego*
- Escondido Charter High School*
- Excel Academy Charter School*
- Julian Union High School District*
2021
- Sage Oak Charter School - South*
2020
- Cabrillo Point Academy*
- California Pacific Charter School - San Diego*
- High Tech High International*
- Pacific Coast Academy*
2019
- Cajon Valley Union School District**
- Juvenile Court and Community Schools/SDCOE*
- Mueller Charter/Bayfront Charter High School*
2018
- e3 Civic High*
- Health Sciences High and Middle College*
- High Tech High*
- High Tech High Chula Vista*
- High Tech High Media Arts*
- High Tech High North County*
- National School District**
- River Valley Charter*
- San Marcos Unified School District*
2017
- Guajome Park Academy*
- Poway Unified School District*
- The O’Farrell Charter*
2016
- Coronado Unified School District*
- Chula Vista Learning Community Charter*
- Helix Charter High*
- Oceanside Unified School District*/**
- San Dieguito Union High School District*
2015
- Carlsbad Unified School District*
- California Virtual Academy@San Diego*
- The Preuss School UCSD*
- Mountain Empire Unified School District*
- Ramona Unified School District*
- Steele Canyon High*
2014
- Fallbrook Union High School District*
- Vista Unified School District*
2012
- Escondido Union High School District*
- Grossmont Union High School District*
2011
- Lemon Grove School District**
- San Diego Unified School District*
- San Ysidro School District**
- Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District*
2010
- Borrego Springs Unified School District*
2009
- Sweetwater Union High School District*
Biliteracy Pathway Recognitions
As of the 2021-2022 school year, there are three Biliteracy Pathway Recognitions available through the California Department of Education: Biliteracy Program Participation Recognition; Home Language Development Recognition; and Biliteracy Attainment Recognition.
The following San Diego County districts and charter schools have adopted Biliteracy Pathway Recognitions:
Biliteracy Program Participation
- Cabrillo Point Academy
- Chula Vista Elementary School District
- Coronado Unified School District
- Encinitas Union School District
- Kavod Charter School
- King-Chavez Preparatory Academy
- Lakeside Union School District
- Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences Charter School
- Nestor Language Academy
- Pacific Coast Academy
- Poway Unified School District
- Ramona Unified School District
- San Diego Unified School District
- San Marcos Unified School District
- South Bay Union School District
- Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District
- Vista Unified School District
Home Language Development
- Cabrillo Point Academy
- Coronado Unified School District
- Kavod Charter School
- King-Chavez Preparatory Academy
- Lakeside Union School District
- Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences Charter School
- Pacific Coast Academy
- San Diego Unified School District
Biliteracy Attainment
- Cabrillo Point Academy
- Coronado Unified School District
- Kavod Charter School
- King-Chavez Preparatory Academy
- Lakeside Union School District
- Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences Charter School
- Nestor Language Academy
- Pacific Coast Academy
- San Diego Unified School District
- South Bay Union School District
Please contact us for examples of board policy.
California State Seal of Biliteracy and Biliteracy Pathway Awards Workshop
Wherever you are in your journey of implementation of the Seal of Biliteracy and/or Biliteracy Pathways, join us for this free workshop. We offer this workshop periodically. Please reach out to us to get more details.
Additional Information and Resources
