Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Golden State Seal Merit Diploma Promotional Flyer

The Golden State Seal Merit Diploma (GSSMD) insignia is awarded jointly by the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to recognize students who have demonstrated mastery of the high school curriculum in at least six subject areas.

Each local educational agency that confers high school diplomas is required, by state law, to identify students who qualify and to affix the GSSMD insignia to the diploma and transcript of each qualifying graduate.

Approximately 60,000 graduates receive a GSSMD insignia affixed to their high school diploma each year.

Students must meet the eligibility requirements in the following subjects:

  • English-language Arts

  • Mathematics

  • Science

  • U.S. History

  • Two subject matter areas selected by the student

Additional information can be found on the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma Web page [http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/meritdiploma.asp].

Questions:   Alicia Aguirre | gssmd@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-9438
Last Reviewed: Monday, March 26, 2018
Share this Page
Related Content
Trending in Testing
Recently Posted in Testing
  • Assessment Spotlight, Issue 16 (added 18-Oct-2018)
    California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) email update, October 17, 2018.
  • Assessment Spotlight, Issue 15 (added 15-Oct-2018)
    California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) email update, October 10, 2018.
  • Matrix 4-Accessibility Resources (PDF) (added 08-Oct-2018)
    This document provides a list of universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations for the 2018-19 English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).
  • Assessment Spotlight, Issue 14 (added 08-Oct-2018)
    California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) email update, October 3, 2018.
  • Smarter Balanced Interim Assessment At A Glance (PDF) (added 28-Aug-2018)
    This document identifies the total number of items on each Interim Assessment Block and Interim Comprehensive Assessment for high school.

  • SB Interim Assessments Glance (PDF) (added 28-Aug-2018)
    This document provides a list of available Smarter Balanced (SB) Interim Assessment Blocks for the 2018?19 school year by content area and grade level.