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Seal of Biliteracy

The Illinois Seal of Biliteracy designation is offered to any high school graduate who meets the required level of proficiency.  

Niles Township High School District 219 participates in this voluntary program by awarding “the State Seal of Biliteracy to any high school graduate who attains a high level of proficiency, sufficient for meaningful use in college and career, in a language other than English as evidenced by his or her attainment of a composite score of ‘intermediate high’ or its equivalent, on a standardized assessment that addresses the four domains of speaking, writing, listening and reading in the targeted foreign language.”  ISBE 23a1.442

Students who attain the Seal of Biliteracy will have it noted on their transcript and diploma. Illinois Public Universities are required to give credit to students who achieve the Seal of Biliteracy.

This document contains more details.

 

For a better understanding of what it means to have Intermediate High skills in a second language, please click on this link.

Illinois Seal of Biliteracy

Language skills at this high level of proficiency are usually demonstrated by students who have completed four or more years of a school program, spent a significant amount of time in another country where the language is spoken, or grown up with the language and can demonstrate skills in all areas. Languages that can currently be tested are Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), ESL, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai. Tests are available for additional languages, please contact Director of World Languages, Todd Bowen, for more information.

English language proficiency is demonstrated via state tests in English Language Arts such as the SAT (Score of 480) or ACCESS with a score of meets standard or higher (4.8 overall).

Students who do not meet Intermediate high, but who demonstrate a proficiency of Intermediate low can receive a notation of Commendation.

Should a student wish to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy in a language that is not taught in our schools, they would have to demonstrate the Intermediate high proficiency in all four domains on a standardized exam or if one is not available via a portfolio method.  The student may have to pay the fees associated with the assessment.

District 219 will pay for one language assessment for qualified students.

Assessments for the Seal of Biliteracy will be given in both buildings in March.