Seal of Biliteracy
Language is an Asset
The Seal of Biliteracy is for all students who achieve a high level of proficiency in English and another language.
Earning the Seal of Biliteracy can help set you apart in your college and career paths.
Purpose for offering the Seal of Biliteracy in BVSD
We are committed to motivating and encouraging every student with a high school preparation program leading to graduation and college and career readiness. We seek to create the environment where:
- The bilingual/multilingual identities of our students in the classroom and the community are a valued asset.
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Proficiency in multiple languages, including English, makes important contributions to a student’s cognitive development, understanding of diverse cultures, and economic opportunities.
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Fluency in multiple languages is a critical element in enabling our city and state to participate effectively in a global political, social, and economic context.
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The demand for employees to be fluent in more than one language is high and increasing in Colorado and throughout the world.
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Multilingual skills are needed to build trust and understanding across the multiple language and cultural groups in our diverse community.
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Providing universities with a certification allows them to give credit and recognition to applicants for attainment of high level skills in multiple languages
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Students earned the Seal of Biliteracy at graduation in May 2019
2020 Application
Applications must be submitted by February 15, 2020. Please see below for requirements and FAQs prior to applying.
Contact Us
Yamil Herrera
Language Assessment Administrative Assistant
720-561-5214
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
- What are the requirements to earn the Seal?
- How many BVSD students earned the seal in 2019?
- How do I take/pay for the AVANT and AAPPL tests?
- How can a student earn the Seal of Biliteracy in ASL?
- How does the district receive assessment results?
- Can I apply for the Seal before taking the assessments?
- How do students include the achievement of the Seal of Biliteracy on College Applications?
- Will the Seal of Biliteracy be on a student's official transcript?
What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
In March 2017 Colorado signed into law SB17-123 that gives school districts authority to grant a diploma endorsement in biliteracy to a student who demonstrates proficiency in English and at least one other language. The bill established the requirements a graduating high school student must meet to obtain the biliteracy endorsement.
What are the requirements to earn the Seal?
The Colorado Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to graduating high school students who can read, speak, listen and write at a high level in English, as well as another language. In order to earn the Seal, students must demonstrate their high proficiency in both English and another language using the approved criteria below.
1. Complete all graduation requirements
Students must fulfill all BVSD graduation requirements in order to earn the Seal. Students who are not yet high school seniors may complete all other requirements prior to their senior year.
2. Show Proficiency in English
Must complete 1 of the following:
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Composite English | ≥18 |
| SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing Portion | ≥ 470 |
| AP English language test | ≥ 3 |
| AP literature test | ≥ 3 |
| IB English Language and Literature test | ≥ 4 |
3. Show proficiency in a world language
Must complete 1 of the following:
| Language | AP Test | IB Test | AVANT STAMP 4S test | AVANT World Speak | AAPPL Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | ≥3 | ≥4 | Intermediate-mid | Intermediate-mid | Intermediate-mid |
| Arabic | X | ||||
| Chinese | X | ||||
| French | X | X | X | ||
| German | X | X | X | ||
| Greek | X | ||||
| Hebrew | X | ||||
| Hindi | X | ||||
| Italian | X | X | |||
| Japanese | X | X | |||
| Korean | X | ||||
| Latin | X | X | |||
| Mandarin | X | ||||
| Polish | X | ||||
| Portuguese | X | ||||
| Russian | X | ||||
| Spanish | X | X | X | ||
| Thai | X | ||||
| Amharic, Armenian, Chin (Hakha), Czech, Filipino (Tagalog), Haitian-Creole, Hmong, Ilocano, Marathi, Samoan, Somali Maay Maay, Somali Maxaa, Tamil, Telugu, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, Yup'ik | X | ||||
| ASL- see information in FAQs below |
How many BVSD students earned the seal in 2019?
How do I take/pay for the AVANT and AAPPL tests?
The district is working on scheduling a date in March for students to take the AVANT and AAPPL tests at various sites. The AAPPL assessment for Thai can be taken by reaching out to Yamil Herrera to arrange. The cost will be below $20 and will be paid through RevTrak.
How can a student earn the Seal of Biliteracy in ASL?
BVSD accepts two assessment pathways for students to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy in ASL. The American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) and the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) are both assessments that are offered through outside vendors. Information for how to access can be found through the links provided. As with AP and IB assessments, these ASL assessments must be scheduled and facilitated at the school level. Score information will be submitted to the teacher and the teacher can then communicate that information to the BVSD Development of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education.
How does the district receive assessment results?
The AVANT and AAPPL Results will be sent to the district within 2 weeks of the exam. Students will receive results from BVSD. This time frame will allow for students who achieve proficiency to receive a cord, certificate, and be recognized at graduation.
For AP and IB tests, if a student takes these exams prior to senior year, the district will receive the results on time. Students taking the IB and AP tests in their senior year will not receive results until July (after graduation) and will therefore not receive a green cord, certificate, or be recognized at graduation. Students can submit results to the district to have the official Seal of Biliteracy printed on their transcript.
Can I apply for the Seal before taking the assessments?
Yes, a student can apply for the Seal prior to completing these assessments. Students taking the AVANT and AAPPL will receive results two weeks after the exam is taken. This time frame will allow for students who achieve proficiency to receive a cord, certificate, and be recognized at graduation.
Students taking the IB and AP tests in their senior year will not receive results until July (after graduation) and will therefore not receive a green cord, certificate, or be recognized at graduation. Students can submit results to the district to have the official Seal of Biliteracy printed on their transcript.
How do students include the achievement of the Seal of Biliteracy on College Applications?
Teachers and Counselors have access to review a student’s data in Infinite Campus. Based on a review of data in IC and comparison with the criteria for the Seal of Biliteracy, a student's teachers and/or counselors can acknowledge that a student is “On track to achieve the Seal” when writing college recommendation letters.
Will the Seal of Biliteracy be on a student's official transcript?
If a student meets the criteria for the Seal of Biliteracy using data available in Infinite Campus, then that student will have the Seal of Biliteracy achievement noted on the official BVSD transcript following graduation. If a student meets the criteria for the Seal using data not available through Infinite Campus, then that student will only have the Seal of Biliteracy achievement noted on the transcript by filling out the application form prior to the deadline so that the data may be updated accordingly. (Note: Cords and Certificates, too, will only be given at the graduation ceremony to students who fill out the application for the Seal prior to the deadline, regardless of whether the data is in IC)