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Seal of Biliteracy

The Idaho Seal of Biliteracy is an award given to high school students who have attained proficiency in English and one or more languages other than English. The Idaho Seal of Biliteracy recognizes a student who has attained biliteracy by high school graduation. The recognition of attaining biliteracy becomes part of the high school transcript and diploma and serves to certify attainment of biliteracy for students, employers, and post-secondary institutions.

See below for qualification information. Interested students that have not already met the Seal qualifications are invited to test for their Seal of Biliteracy during Spring of their senior year*.

*If a student would like to test before their senior year they can arrange testing with their world language teacher.

Pathways to the Biliteracy Diploma 

First... the student must demonstrate proficiency in English by earning only A, B, or C grades in all of their high school English classes.

Second... if the student meets the English requirement, then the student can earn the Idaho Seal of Biliteracy one of three ways:

1- Meeting the AP Requirement

  • Earning a 3, 4, or 5 score on and AP non-English language exam by their senior year of high school.

2 - Qualifying through competency-based credits:

  • Students must have demonstrated proficiency by previously earning A and B grades in four (4) world language courses**. The qualifying courses are:
    • Spanish 4A & 4B
    • Spanish 5A & 5B
    • Advanced Spanish Speaking & Writing A & B
    • AP Spanish Language & Culture A & B

**The world language department determined this requirement meets the intermediate mid-level or higher ACTFL level in Spanish coursework only, not in French.

3 - Testing to meet the Intermediate-Mid or Higher Proficiency Requirement 

  • Students can apply to take the ACTFL to determine whether they meet the Intermediate Mid proficiency level or higher requirement in their senior year of high school. Students eligible to apply are those who meet one of the following:
    • completed World Language courses through Level 2 in high school;
    • are English Learners, to include those identified as Newcomers, who demonstrate evidence of being literate in a language other than English
    • can demonstrate evidence of being literate in a language other than English (e.g. have studied languages on their own, spent time in a foreign country as an exchange student,  learned how to speak, read, and write in a language other than English at home, students who transfer from a Dual Immersion program in BCSD or another district)
  • The AAPPL test taken by students who attend Wood River Middle School in 8th grade will not qualify a student. The test must be taken during their high school tenure.