The Illinois State Seal of Bilieracy and Commendation Toward Biliteracy are awards bestowed by the Illinois State Board of Education in recognition and celebration of students who have attained a high level of proficiency in th four domains of listening, speaking, reading and writing in English and one or more other languages by their high school graduation.
The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who have demonstrated proficiency at the Intermediate-High level in all four domains, in both languages.
The Commendation Toward Biliteracy recognizes students who have demonstrated proficiency at a minimum Intermediate-Low level in all four domains, in both languages.
ALL students are eligible to demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages through this program.
Students must show proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing on a state-approved assessment. After obtaining results, awards will be given to those who meet Seal and/or Commendation criteria.
Students may take a state-approved assessment, and in the case that a standardized assessment is not available, students will be able to demonstrate proficiency through an alternative process. All assessment opportunities will be availalbe through Bloom District 206.
For a list of state-approved assessments and their criteria, please click here.
Click here for detailed criteria on earning the Seal and/or Commendation.
Yes! You can apply for the Seal and/or Commendation in all languages in which you are literate in listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Yes! You can apply for the Seal and/or Commendation at any time during your high school career. Students who earn prior to Senior year will have the designation applied to their transcript upon receipt and will receive thier award at the time of their high school graduation, where it will be acknowledged on official transcripts and their diploma.
Yes, if the results of an approved language assessment are not available at the time of graduation, the District may award the Seal and/or Commendation after graduation when results are available. The District may recognize you as a candidate for the Seal and/or Commendation, but no official designation will be included on the transcript or diploma until the District receives the assessment results that indicate that you qualify for the Seal and/or Commendation.