Seal of Biliteracy
Seal of Biliteracy Information
The Seal of Biliteracy was an initiative started by Californians Together in 2008 to acknowledge and award bilingual and multilingual students. In 2011, it officially became legislation in California and now multiple states throughout the nation have implemented a statewide Seal of Biliteracy. On January 19, 2016, New Jersey became the 17th state to implement a legislated statewide Seal of Biliteracy. By achieving the Seal of Biliteracy, students demonstrate that they are able to speak, read, comprehend and write in two or more languages at a high level of proficiency.
Holmdel High School is proud to offer the Seal of Biliteracy to eligible students and will again participate in the New Jersey Department of Education Seal of Biliteracy Program. This program recognizes high school students who have attained a level of proficiency in English and in another language. Our district offers world language sequences in Chinese, French, Italian, Latin and Spanish, with honors societies in all five. Additionally, in the three years our district has offered this testing, students who speak another language at home have earned the seal in at least three additional “heritage languages:”: German, Russian, and Korean with two students earning the Seal in two different languages!
- 2024 Seniors who earned the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy
- Seal of Biliteracy Teal double cord is used for graduation.
Information from the NJDOE
For more information about the Seal of Biliteracy Program visit the links below.
New Jersey Department of Education Seal of Biliteracy FAQ http://www.state.nj.us/education/aps/cccs/wl/biliteracy/faq.htm
New Jersey Department of Education Seal of Biliteracy Brochure http://www.state.nj.us/education/aps/cccs/wl/biliteracy/brochure.pdf
Seal of Biliteracy - Acceptable Evidence of Proficiency http://www.state.nj.us/education/aps/cccs/wl/biliteracy/evidence.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
What proficiency level do I need to achieve in the World Language assessment to be eligible?
In order for students to be eligible to receive the Seal of Biliteracy, they must meet certain criteria:
Students must demonstrate a proficiency level of Intermediate Mid in a World Language in all four domains of language (reading, writing, speaking, and listening).
Also, students must demonstrate proficiency in English by meeting State high school graduation requirements in English or its alternatives, including through State ELA assessments.
Is there a makeup date for the assessment?
Unfortunately, there are no makeup dates for this assessment.
Do Advanced Placement (AP) exams qualify?
The AP exam qualifies only if the test(s) was taken during the second semester of junior year of high school. Current senior students who took a World Language AP exam during their junior year and scored a 4 or better and have met the NJDOE ELA graduation requirement are eligible to obtain the Seal of Biliteracy.
What is the cost of the assessment?
There is no cost for juniors or seniors, however students must apply to determine eligibility and make a commitment to sit for the test which is paid for by the district.
How do I participate in the Seal of Biliteracy program?
If you are a current junior or senior and you are interested in participating in this program, you will receive an information regarding the Seal of Biliteracy and must complete the Interest Form available in mid-December 2022. Additional information about the assessment will be provided to students following the completion of the Interest Form.
When and where is the HHS administering the assessments?
The HHS will administer the assessments in January of 2023. Specific dates will be announced in early December. Additional information about the assessment will be provided to students following the completion of the Interest Form available in mid-December of 2022.