Benjamin Franklin High School students proficient in a second language have the opportunity to earn the Arizona Seal of Biliteracy and have it placed on their high school diploma and have it included on their transcript. Any interested students/families must pay the exam fee at the front office or online through MySchoolBucks (Here is the payment link: Seal of Biliteracy). The payment deadline is (Spring 2027 DEADLINE TBD), and the Spanish and French exams cost $40.00 and the Latin exam costs $14.00 since it is only testing in one area (reading). The proficiency exam will be held at the school on (Spring 2027 DATE TBD).  In addition to receiving the Arizona Seal of Biliteracy, students are also eligible to apply for the Global Seal of Biliteracy, which offers several additional benefits. Please see the registration information at theglobalseal.com/apply.  For the Arizona Seal of Biliteracy, BFHS will use the ACT ELA score to validate English proficiency and the Avant Stamp 4S to verify Spanish, French, or Latin proficiency or the AP Spanish Exam score (see information below). Avant STAMP (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency) is a proctored computer-adaptive language proficiency assessment that has real-world questions that test level-appropriate topics with content that engages students. Results are available about 7-12 business days after testing has been completed. 

Please review the complete eligibility requirements:

1. Students must complete all requirements during grades 9-12. Previous experience will not be counted.

2. Students must complete all English Language Arts courses with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 out of a 4.0 scale.

3. Students must pass an examination in English Language Arts:
   ACT ELA Score of Proficient 19-24 (as set by the Arizona State Board of Education)

4. Demonstrates proficiency in one or more languages other than English through the Avant proficiency exam or a passing AP Exam score for the Spanish Students*. Second language proficiency exams need to be completed during grades 9-12 and preferably in grades 11 or 12. Students must attain a score of 5 Intermediate-Mid in each category (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking); Composite score must be 5 or above with no category being lower than 5. 

*In some rare cases, a 10th or 11th grade student may be enrolled in AP Spanish, and the minimum passing score of 3 on the AP Spanish exam will also satisfy this requirement. The AP Exam scores are not available until the first week of July, so any 12th grade student who wishes to use their AP Exam score will not receive the Seal of Biliteracy until after graduation when this requirement can be verified. Students in Honors Spanish III are welcome to take the exam their junior year if they would like to verify their current skill level. This 4-Skill Report Card gives a visual and tips to “level-up” and improve. Learners can discover their strong areas and focus on their weaknesses. 

On average, it takes around 2 to 2 ½ hours to complete the full assessment (less than an hour for Latin). Here is the approximate duration for each section:

Reading: 35-40 minutes 

Writing: 20-25 minutes  

Listening: 35-40 minutes

Speaking: 20-25 minutes

Why is the Seal of Biliteracy important?

• The Arizona Seal of Biliteracy is nationally recognized.

• It provides recognition for a student’s efforts beyond the minimum requirements

• It is more than a piece of paper or a seal on a graduation diploma; it is a tool that recipients can use for their professional goals

• It paints the picture that proficiency in a foreign language is compatible with any career

• A person’s bilingual abilities are a verifiable skill for future employment. Employers will see that the individual didn’t just take a course, but they succeeded in learning the skills as evidenced by passing an exam and earning a credential that is measurable. 

• Credentials matter: Multiple benchmark awards increase motivation, highlight language skills in college/job applications, scholarships, advanced placement or competency-based credit, internships, job resumés/CV, potential language pay differentials

Please contact Profe. Peterson (apeterson@bfcsaz.com) if you have any questions about the Arizona Seal of Biliteracy.

Foreign Language Graduation Cords

As of May of 2025, all 12th grade students who pass the 4th year of a foreign language class at BFHS and are graduating from Benjamin Franklin High School will be recognized with a special white graduation cord and a special character will be placed next to their name on the graduation program. These students will also be recognized by the school at an Opening Ceremony in May, where they will receive the graduation cord from their 4th year foreign language teacher. 

Please contact Profe. Peterson (apeterson@bfcsaz.com) if you have any questions about the Foreign Language Graduation Cords at Benjamin Franklin High School