State Seal of Biliteracy FAQs

For more information about the State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB), including resources and guidance, please visit the California Department of Education (CDE) SSB web page.

2023–24 Specific FAQs

1. Have the State SSB requirements changed for 2024 graduates?

   Yes.  Assembly Bill 370 was signed by Governor Newsom on October 7, 2023.  Please see California Education Code (EC) Section 51461 for the current requirements.

2. When does Assembly Bill (AB) 370 go into effect?

   AB 370 goes into effect on January 1, 2024 (California Government Code Section 9600).

3. Where can I find guidance on the new SSB requirements?

   The FAQs below and the guidance and resources on the CDE SSB web page have been updated to reflect the new requirements. CDE also encourages LEAs to consult with their attorneys about any changes to the legal requirements effected by AB 370.

General FAQs

1. What is the SSB?

   The SSB is a recognition conferred by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction for graduating high school students who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.

2. How can I learn if our district’s graduates are eligible for the SSB?

   The requirements for eligibility can be found in California Education Code (EC) Section 51461 . Additional information about the SSB can be found in EC sections 51460–51464 .

3. What kind of insignia will be provided by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction?

   One gold, embossed, self-adhesive seal will be provided for each qualifying graduate per language in addition to English in which the student meets the requirements. The seal was specially designed for the SSB designation and is to be placed on the graduate's high school diploma or transcript (California Education Code Section 51462[a]).

4. What information does the CDE request from local educational agencies (LEAs) in order to award seals?

   The online Insignia Request Form, located on the CDE SSB web page, identifies the information that the CDE collects.

5. How can LEAs submit the SSB information to the CDE?

   SSB requests may be submitted through the online Insignia Request Form, which can be found on the CDE SSB web page.

6. When is the deadline to submit the Insignia Request Form?

   There is no specific deadline. The CDE recommends, however, that LEAs submit the online Insignia Request Form at least four weeks prior to the graduation date to account for mailing time. This will help ensure sufficient time for LEAs to affix insignias to be affixed to the diplomas or transcripts.
   
   Also, the CDE annually publishes SSB data collected through the Insignia Request Form. To ensure that your data is included in the annual posted, please submit requests by July 31 of that year. The online Insignia Request Form can be found on the CDE SSB web page.

7. When will the CDE send the requested insignias to LEAs?

   The CDE makes every effort to mail the insignias within two weeks of receiving the online request. If LEAs do not receive seals within three weeks of submitting the form, please contact the CDE Multilingual Support Division by phone at 916-319-0938 or by email at SEAL@cde.ca.gov.

8. Is there a cost associated with the SSB?

   Per California Education Code Section 51464, no fee may be charged to LEAs or students who participate in the SSB program.

9. How can LEAs ensure they have a sufficient number of insignias to award seals to all students who meet the requirements for earning the SSB by the end of their senior year?

   LEAs may estimate the number of students they believe will meet eligibility requirements by graduation based on available data. Seals are to be awarded only to those students who fully meet the eligibility requirements (California Education Code Section 51461). If the LEA orders more seals than they need, they may submit a corrected Insignia Request Form to ensure that the data the CDE collects and reports is accurate. If the LEA does not order enough seals, they may submit an additional Insignia Request Form. The online Insignia Request Form can be found on the CDE SSB web page.

10. Does SSB information need to be reported through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS)?

    Yes. In addition to requesting insignias through the online Insignia Request Form, LEAs should indicate which students earned the SSB when exiting students in CALPADS. Starting in 2018, the SSB was incorporated as one of the options an LEA may select for the College/Career Indicator for high schools. Students who earned the SSB will be reflected in the California School Dashboard.

    For more information about CALPADS, including how to report SSB data, please contact the CALPADS Operations Office by phone at 916-324-6738 or by email at CALPADS@cde.ca.gov.

11. What is the benefit of having the SSB insignia on a diploma or transcript?

    The SSB certifies that graduates have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and one or more language in addition to English. The SSB may be used by employers to identify people with language and biliteracy skills and by universities as a method to recognize and give academic credit to applicants seeking admission (California Education Code Section 51460[b][3] and [4]).

12. How many students have received the SSB?

    Each year, thousands of students receive the California SSB. For detailed data by year, please visit the CDE SSB web page and click on the "Data" tab. The "List of Districts and Schools Participating" includes participating schools and districts by county and the number of seals awarded in each district and county by language.

13. Where can I find more information about the SSB?

    The requirements for eligibility, and other important information can be found in Education Code sections 51460-51464 and on the CDE SSB web page.

14. What are the requirements for earning the SSB?

    The requirements for earning the SSB are outlined in California Education Code Section 51461 . A user-friendly version of these requirements is available in the SSB Requirements Flyer available on the CDE SSB web page “Requirements” tab.

15. What is a "successor test," as referenced in Education Code (EC) Section 51461(a)(1)(B)?

    A “successor test” refers to any future assessment that may be adopted by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to take the place of California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) for example, the CAASPP system is the “successor test” to the California Standards Test.

16. In which languages may the SSB be awarded?

    The SSB may be awarded in any world language other than English. To earn the SSB, students must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English. To learn more about the options for demonstrating world language proficiency for the SSB, please see the CDE SSB web page and EC Section 51461 .

17. To be eligible for the SSB, in which of the domains must candidates demonstrate proficiency?

    In accordance with EC Section 51461(a)(2)(C)(ii), high school graduates who are candidates for the SSB must have attained a high level of proficiency in all the modalities (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) that characterize communication in that language. SSB criteria can be found in EC Section 51461 .

18. Can the SSB be awarded in American Sign Language (ASL)?

    Yes. Students may earn the SSB in ASL. According to EC Section 51461(a)(2)(C)(ii), “a pupil who seeks to qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy through a language that is not characterized by listening, speaking, or reading, or for which there is no written system, shall pass an assessment on the modalities that characterize communication in that language at the proficient level or higher.” For information regarding ASL assessments that LEAs have adopted locally for the SSB, please see the “Assessments” tab on the CDE SSB web page.

19. Can the SSB be awarded in a language that does not have a written system?

    Yes. Per EC Section 51461(a)(2)(C)(ii), “a pupil who seeks to qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy through a language that is not characterized by listening, speaking, or reading, or for which there is no written system, shall pass an assessment on the modalities that characterize communication in that language at the proficient level or higher.”

20. Can students qualify for the SSB in more than one language?

    Yes. Students may earn more than one SSB provided they fulfill the SSB requirements in each additional world language. The LEA may request the appropriate number of seals to account for any students who qualify in more than one world language. The requirements for earning the SSB can be found in EC 51461, and information can also be found on the CDE SSB web page.

21. If a student seeks to qualify for the SSB through an assessment administered in grade 12 and they do not receive their scores until after graduation, can the student still earn the SSB?

    Yes. Seals may be awarded after graduation. Some districts recognize these students as "candidates for the SSB" during graduation ceremonies.

22. May LEA use a locally approved assessment to determine proficiency in a world language other than English for the SSB?

    The assessments statutorily identified for demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English are the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test and Oral Proficiency Interview (EC 51461[a][2][A]). An LEA must certify that any world language proficiency assessment(s) it uses, other than those specified in EC 51461(a)(2)(A), meet the rigor of a four-year high school course of study and, at a minimum, assess speaking, reading, and writing in the language at the proficient level or higher (EC Section 51461[a][2][C]). LEAs may certify locally approved assessments when submitting the online Insignia Request Form annually. The Insignia Request Form is available on the CDE SSB web page.

23. Can an LEA create an exam to assess proficiency in a world language other than English for the SSB?

    Yes. According to EC Section 51461(a)(2)(C)(i), “If no Advanced Placement examination or off-the-shelf language test exists and the school district can certify to the Superintendent that the test meets the rigor of a four-year high school course of study in that world language” an LEA may use “a school district language examination that, at a minimum, assesses speaking, reading, and writing in a language other than English at the proficient level or higher.”

24. Are there any assessments which districts have approved locally to assess world languages proficiency in a language other than English for the SSB?

    A list of locally approved world language proficiency assessments that LEAs have certified meet the rigor of a four-year high school course of study in the world language and assess speaking, reading, and writing in the language at the proficient level or higher is posted on the CDE SSB web page under the “Assessments” tab.

25. How can an LEA submit a locally approved assessment to be included in the list of locally approved world language assessments posted on the CDE SSB web page?

    When submitting the online SSB Insignia Request Form annually, LEAs are asked if they use any locally approved assessments to assess proficiency in a world language other than English for the SSB. LEAs may submit their locally approved assessments by indicating “Yes” and then including the information about locally approved assessments when prompted in the form. This form asks LEAs to certify to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction that the test “meets the rigor of a four-year high school course of study in that world language” and that the assessment assesses “speaking, reading, and writing” or all of the modalities that exist in the language, at the proficiency level or higher (EC Section 51461[a][2][C][i]).

    Assessment information submitted via the SSB Insignia Request Form is used to create the list of locally approved assessments posted annually on the CDE SSB web page under the “Assessments” tab.

26. If a student tests into a higher level world language course and completes through year four of that language with a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), would that student qualify for the SSB even if the student did not complete level 1, 2, 3, and 4 in high school?

    Per EC Section 51461(a)(2)(B), one way to show proficiency in a language other than English is "successful completion of a four-year course of study of content in a world language at a high school or higher level attaining an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above in that course of study, and oral proficiency in that language" comparable to that required to pass a an AP, IB, or ACTFL assessment, as discussed in (a)(2)(A). LEAs define the structure, organization, and successful completion of a four-year high school course of study in a world language. The LEA may establish comparable rigor scenarios for the "four-year high school course of study in a world language" consistent with EC Section 51461, including for students who place into higher level language courses. For example, if a student tests out of the first year of a four-year high school course of study or takes the first year of a four-year high school course of study while still in grade eight, but completes the rest of the four-year course, such student could qualify for the SSB provided they also satisfied the other criteria.

27. Can courses completed at a college or university satisfy a four-year high school course of study in a world language for SSB eligibility?

    Yes. Per EC Section 51461(a)(2)(B)(ii), “Completion of one or more world language courses at a public higher education institution or an independent institution of higher education…with a grade point average of 3.0 or above and oral proficiency in the language” may satisfy the four-year course of study option for demonstrating proficiency in a world language other than English provided the coursework is verified by the LEA.

28. Can courses completed in another country count toward a four-year high school course of study in a world language for SSB eligibility?

    Yes. In accordance with EC Section 51461(a)(2)(B)(ii), “Successful completion of high school level courses completed in another country in a language other than English with the equivalent of an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above, as verified through a transcript” may count towards the four-year course of study option for demonstrating proficiency in a world language other than English.

29. Can courses completed at a community college or university satisfy the English language arts (ELA) coursework option for demonstrating proficiency in English for the SSB?

    Yes. Per EC Section 51461(a)(1)(A), one way to demonstrate proficiency in English for the SSB is to complete all ELA requirements for graduation with a 3.0 or higher GPA in those classes. Further, students may satisfy one or more of these course requirements with courses at a public education institution or independent institution of higher education (as described in EC Section 66010).

30. If a district counts an English language development (ELD) class as an ELA class for its graduation requirements, can that class satisfy the ELA coursework option for demonstrating proficiency in English for the SSB?

    Yes. Per EC Section 51461(a)(1)(A), one way to demonstrate proficiency in English for the SSB is to complete all ELA requirements for graduation with a 3.0 or higher GPA in those classes. It is CDE’s position that if a student receives ELA credit for an ELD class, with at least a 3.0 GPA, that class may count towards this requirement.

31. Can the SSB be awarded prior to grade 12?

    Yes. If a student meets all the requirements in EC Section 51461 prior to grade 12, the SSB may be awarded to that student as soon as the requirements are met. However, if the SSB is to be affixed to the transcript, the LEA may wait to place the seal until the diploma is awarded and instead note that the requirements were met on the transcript.

32. Do colleges and universities recognize the SSB?

    Each college or university determines for itself if and how to recognize the SSB. Please contact the college or university directly to inquire whether SSB recognition is offered.

33. Are the requirements for the SSB different for students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?

    For a student with an IEP, LEAs should defer to what is in the student’s IEP regarding testing. The decision to modify the SSB criteria would depend on the individual student and the decisions made by the student’s IEP team. The IEP team should review the student’s assessment plan and transition plan and determine what assessment(s) to use and what score on these assessments indicates proficiency in order to accurately measure the student’s biliteracy in light of the student’s IEP.

34. Can students who attend private school qualify for the SSB?

    No. The SSB is an award conferred by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and thus not awarded to private school students. CDE encourages private schools, however, to establish their own Seal of Biliteracy program. For more information on establishing a Seal of Biliteracy program, please visit the Seal of Biliteracy website .

35. How can I learn about other Seal of Biliteracy programs?

    You may access more information on Seal of Biliteracy programs in other states on the Seal of Biliteracy website .

36. How can I contact the CDE if I have questions?

    For questions related to the State Seal of Biliteracy, contact the CDE Multilingual Support Division by phone at 916-319-0265 or by email at SEAL@cde.ca.gov.