Seal of Biliteracy

The Seal of Biliteracy is a national movement to recognize graduates who speak, listen, read and write proficiently in another language in addition to English at high school graduation. Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy legislation was signed by Governor Baker on November 22, 2017, as part of a comprehensive bill to support and develop multilingualism in the state.

Earning the Seal of Biliteracy 

In order to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students must demonstrate proficiency in English and an additional language.  MCAS scores are used to demonstrate English proficiency. An additional second language test documents proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in the second language. In Wilmington we administer the STAMP (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency) to senior students who volunteer to take the test. 

The Seal of Biliteracy in Wilmington

In 2015, Wilmington Public Schools became one of the first six districts in the state to become a part of the Seal of Biliteracy Pilot. We worked with a number of schools, districts, and universities, public and private, and the Language Opportunity Coalition to develop the toolkit that will now become a part of the guiding language for the LOOK Bill as well as the protocols for earning the Seal of Biliteracy in the state. 

This is the fifth year awarding the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary State Seal of Biliteracy, the State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction, and the Language Opportunity Coalition Biliteracy Achievement Award! The Seal of Biliteracy is part of a National Movement now across 49 of the 50 states that recognizes the exceptional ability of students to be a part of a language and culture beyond English. Wilmington is so proud to have been one of the first 6 districts in the state to pilot the Seal of Biliteracy, and our work was instrumental in passing the LOOK Bill in 2017 which brought the Seal of Biliteracy into existence in the state! We are very proud to present this senior class with 14 Biliteracy Awards and add them to our impressive history of world languages here! 

The Language Opportunity Coalition, the group responsible for the LOOK Bill of 2017, the law that went into effect and officially created the Seal of Biliteracy in Massachusetts, started the Biliteracy Achievement Award for students who have attained a proficiency level no lower than Intermediate-Mid in any language domain (Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening) in a another language. 

By offering the Seal of Biliteracy to our students, we hope to honor the bilingual student community at Wilmington High and encourage more students to pursue world language proficiency.  Bilingualism is a critical 21st century skill that recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy can highlight in both college and job applications. It encourages students to pursue long-term language as native, heritage, or world language secondary language learners. It also encourages the development of higher levels of proficiency as well as documenting achievement in biliteracy, and producing a biliterate, multicultural workforce.

The Seal in Massachusetts (Updated 2019)

Massachusetts is increasingly a global state and prides itself on its progressive education platform. The Seal of Biliteracy provides nationally recognized evidence to universities and businesses that our students have attained this critical 21st century skill. At this time, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released their guidelines for districts to implement the Seal. 

For more information on this, please go to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education page for Guidance and Laws for English Language Learners (English Learners).