Seal of Biliteracy

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by United Township High School District #30 in recognition of students who are proficient in two or more languages by high school graduation. Students who earn the Seal receive a special sticker on their high school diploma along with a note on their transcript, which can be used to earn free college language credits at any public college or university in the state of Illinois, as stated in Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 5/2-3.159:

(j) Each public community college and public university in this State shall establish criteria to translate a State Seal of Biliteracy into course credit based on foreign language course equivalencies identified by the community college's or university's faculty and staff and, upon request from an enrolled student, the community college or university shall award foreign language course credit to a student who has received a State Seal of Biliteracy. Students enrolled in a public community college or public university who have received a State Seal of Biliteracy must request course credit for their seal within 3 academic years after graduating from high school.

(Source: P.A. 101-222, eff. 1-1-20.)

Students who don't meet the criteria to receive the Seal of Biliteracy may be eligible for the Commendation toward Biliteracy, which recognizes the progress that the student has made toward becoming bilingual and biliterate.

Students who are interested in taking one or more tests to earn the Seal of Biliteracy may take them at no cost to them at any time during their high school career, although they will not receive the Seal until after they have successfully completed all graduation requirements.

More information regarding the requirements may be found on the application form. Interested students may apply by making a copy of the Google Docs application form or completing it using an extension such as Kami, then emailing it to kerickson@uths.net, or by filling out the Google Forms application. Either method is a valid application for the Seal.

Questions regarding the Seal of Biliteracy can be directed to Kelsey Erickson at kerickson@uths.net or 309.752.6833.