Seal of Biliteracy

The State Seal of Biliteracy and State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction are official state designations recognizing graduating students who attain high proficiency in English and at least one other language.

This recognition is open to all students, whether the language was learned in the classroom, at home, or in the community. Barnstable Public Schools accommodates testing and portfolio assessments in any language, including American Sign Language (ASL) and heritage/home languages, based on student signups and interest.

Upon earning the award, Barnstable Public Schools will affix the official DESE Seal of Biliteracy insignia directly to the student’s high school diploma and transcript.

• Students who receive the MA State Seal of Biliteracy are eligible to receive credits at many universities and colleges across Massachusetts. See the updated list below.

• Students entering the workforce or military receive a digital accreditation of their language abilities through the Global Seal of Biliteracy. This can be placed onto a resume, LinkedIn, or email signature and may lead to increased salary or promotion opportunities.

• Those interested in education will also be granted a voucher by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to take one Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) at no cost upon receiving the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy.

• Students who earn the Seal of Biliteracy are honored at Senior Awards night as well as various Honor Societies for World Languages. Students also earn special recognition at graduation.

Students who are applying to private or out-of-state institutions should work with their admissions office to determine if any credits are granted for the Seal of Biliteracy.

Students can refer to this document to view current public institutions offering credit for the Seal of Biliteracy and their current policy.

In summary, some of the public institutions include:

• Bridgewater State University
• Cape Cod Community College
• Salem State University
• University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
• University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth)
• Westfield State University
• Worcester State University

This list continues to grow and includes many more community colleges. Students should always check with their chosen college or university to see what credits might be provided and the current policy, including those applying out-of-state.

Students who qualify for the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy also qualify for the Global Seal of Biliteracy, a global certification that allows employers and schools to verify language proficiency. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is not recognized by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, nor does it automatically confer college credits.

The Global Seal of Biliteracy allows recipients to professionally showcase their language skills with a personalized digital profile. Share your achievements via a unique link, highlight your language journey, and easily update your profile as you earn additional seals to stand out to employers, universities, and beyond.

• Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by earning a score of Meeting Expectations (500 or higher) on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS. Alternate pathways exist for the school year 2026-2027 for this component.

• Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a world language by attaining a minimum score equivalent to Intermediate-High on an assessment approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

• Satisfy all other graduation requirements.

• Earn a score of Exceeding Expectations (530 or higher) on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS. Alternate pathways exist for the school year 2026-2027.

• Demonstrate a proficiency level of Advanced Low or higher on a Department-approved assessment.

• Satisfy all other graduation requirements.

• We will be administering the 10th grade ELA MCAS on March 23rd, 2027 and March 24th, 2027.

• We will be administering World Language assessments from March 1st, 2027 to March 5th, 2027. After signing up, you will recieve a separate email with your testing date.

• Alternate English tests will be offered the week of World Language assessments.

Please make sure that you sign into your school email to access the application.

No matter what grade a student is in, it is never too late to start preparing for the Seal of Biliteracy.

Students who plan on testing in a home, heritage, or community language should seek out opportunities to read, write, and speak in that language (no formal school language class is required!)

Students who are interested in pursuing the Seal of Biliteracy in a new language should enroll in a World Language class as early as possible.

All students will benefit from seeking out music, art, and other media in the target language and from listening to and engaging with speakers of that language.

Students who are currently preparing for testing can review the preparation materials for Avant tests.

We look forward to honoring the language expertise and diversity in our district through this initiative.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Mr. Cody Small - Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator

Email: small_cody@mybps.us

Phone: 508.790.6445 ext. 1182

Location: Room 1320 at Barnstable High School