Wicomico County Public Schools is proud to offer students the opportunity to earn the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy.
A Seal of Biliteracy is a state award that recognizes a student’s high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages other than English. It is awarded to eligible high school students by participating public school systems in Maryland, including Wicomico.
The purpose of the Seal of Biliteracy is to:
- Recognize the value of language learning in public schools.
- Encourage students to attain high proficiency levels in one or more languages in addition to English.
- Affirm native or heritage languages.
- Provide employers with a method of identifying individuals with language and biliteracy skills.
- Prepare students with the critical skills necessary to function in a global society.
- Strengthen cross-cultural communication, affirm the value of diversity and honor the multiple cultures and languages in our communities.
In addition to the notation on their high school transcript, Seal of Biliteracy recipients receive a certificate and a medal.
In 2023, Wicomico County Public Schools had 30 students graduate with the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy distinction!
Seal of Biliteracy
To be eligible for a Seal of Biliteracy, a student must fulfill the following requirements:
~ Meet the Maryland High School Assessment requirements in English for their graduating class.
~ Score Intermediate High Proficiency or equivalent on an approved world language assessment.
Although students may test at any point during high school, the Seal of Biliteracy is not awarded until a student graduates.
WCPS uses the Avant STAMP 4S and Avant STAMP WS assessments.
The Avant STAMP 4S assesses students in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking and can be taken in:
• Arabic • English • French • German • Hebrew
• Hindi • Italian • Japanese • Korean
• Mandarin (simplified & traditional) • Polish
• Portuguese (Brazilian) • Russian • Spanish
In the Avant STAMP WS students self-evaluate in Reading and Listening before being assessed in Writing and Speaking. The Avant STAMP WS can be taken in:
• Amharic • Armenian • Cabo Verdean • Chin (Hakha)
• Chuukese • Czeck • Filipino (Tagalog) • Haitian Creole
• Hawaiian (‘Ōlelo Hawai’i) • Hmong • Ilocano • Kannada
• Marathi • Marshallese • Samoan • Somali Maay Maay
• Somali Maxaa • Tamil • Telugu • Turkish • Urdu
• Vietnamese • Yup'ik • Zomi
Tests are $24.90. Payment must be made online. Cash and check payments are NOT an option. Pay for your test by going to:
https://avantassessment.ecwid.com/#!/Wicomico-County-Public-Schools/c/34826039
For More Information reach out to your school's Seal of Biliteracy Liaison or contact Seal of Biliteracy Testing Coordinator Sherri Harkins (sharkins@wcboe.org).
Carolina Kurtz
Stefanie Neal
In the 2023-2024 school year, there will be three opportunities to test for the Seal of Biliteracy.
ALL testing takes place at the Newcomer Center/Schumaker Complex and we do provide transportation.
Testing Opportunity #1 ~
(with retesting as needed)
(with retesting as needed)
Registration for this session will close at 11:59pm on Monday, September 18, 2023. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Test: Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Retest: Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Testing Opportunity #2 ~
(with retesting as needed)
(with retesting as needed)
Registration for this session will close at 11:59pm on Monday, November 6, 2023. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Test: Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Retest: Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Testing Opportunity #3 ~
(with retesting as needed)
(with retesting as needed)
FINAL TESTING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR!
Registration for this session will close at 11:59pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Test: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Retest: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
To register to test for the Seal of Biliteracy go to