Seal of Biliteracy Newsletter

This special edition newsletter provides information about the Seal of Biliteracy for interested High School Seniors and Juniors. Read on to learn more!

Thank you for your support,

FHPS Instruction Team

The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy has been created to recognize students who have shown dedication to the study of world languages and/or embraced their native and heritage languages.

The Seal will provide employers with a way to identify individuals with strong language and biliteracy skills and may also serve as an additional tool for colleges and universities to recognize applicants' language abilities for admission and placement.

49 states in the U.S. award a Seal of Biliteracy to graduating high school seniors.

This video was created by the Michigan Department of Education to explain many of the benefits of the Seal of Biliteracy.

There are three pathways through which graduating seniors may qualify to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.

1. You might be interested in pursuing the Seal of Biliteracy if you believe that you can demonstrate at least Intermediate-High proficiency (as aligned with ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines) in the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening in English AND in a language other than English.

   There are two requirements to meet in order to earn the Seal of Biliteracy:

   1. You must be a junior or senior in high school and meet all graduation requirements in English Language Arts

   2. Demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English

   1. There are several options for you to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Some of the most common ways include achieving a score of 4 or above on an AP Exam in a language other than English, achieving a score of 6 or above on all 4 portions of the Avant STAMP 4S, or providing foreign transcripts from the equivalent of 6th grade or above.

You must be a junior or senior to apply.

To begin your application, complete the application form by clicking this image 🠞 going to https://bit.ly/SOBLapp or scanning the QR code.

You will receive verification of receipt and additional information on next steps within 2 to 3 school days.

Once all of your information is complete and has been reviewed by FHPS, it will be submitted to the Michigan Department of Education on your behalf.

The Seal of Biliteracy honor will be included on your high school transcript once you have graduated and you will also receive an official letter of recognition from the Michigan Department of Education.

Because the Seal can only be awarded after graduation, it will be mailed to you.

Most FHPS students will need to take a qualifying language test to apply for the Seal. The Michigan Department of Education accepts the results of several commercially-available tests.

In FHPS, students enrolled in AP language tests can use the results of the AP language exam. Scores of 4 or 5 will qualify you for the Seal.

If you are not going to take an AP language test in your target language, FHPS offers the Avant STAMP test. Achieving an Intermediate High (6) level in all four components (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) of the test will qualify you for the Seal. You can get more information on STAMP in this slide deck.

If you’ve already taken another language assessment, it may also be valid for the Seal. The MDE provides a list of the approved assessments.

You only need to have a qualifying score on one of these tests to earn the Seal.

If you were enrolled in a school in the U.S.A. for the first time in 6th grade or higher, transcripts from your previous school(s) can be used to verify a language of instruction other than English. Your transcript must be reviewed by FHPS prior to being submitted for the Seal of Biliteracy.

Avant STAMP 4S is a language assessment that measure proficiency across four domains: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is offered in several languages. A proficiency test in American Sign Language (ASL) is now also available.

For less commonly-spoken languages, Avant offers the STAMP WS that measures writing and speaking. It must be combined with additional documentation in order to be approvable for the Seal of Biliteracy.

We are scheduling sessions now. Check back soon.

STAMP 4S = $20

Retakes of a single component (Reading, Listening, Speaking, or Writing) = $10

STAMP American Sign Language (ASL) = $30

Students who participate in their school's free or reduced lunch program will automatically have their testing fee waived. Students who do not participate in the free or reduced lunch program, but who would like to request financial assistance may do so when completing the application form.

ACTFL proficiency standards are globally-recognized benchmarks for describing levels of proficiency with any language. Most language assessments, including Avant STAMP, score results according to these guidelines.

The Global Seal of Biliteracy organization provides descriptions of the standards here along with a self-assessment.

You can find additional information on the Michigan Department of Education’s website:

• Frequently Asked Questions

• MDE Website

Please reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or to share any celebrations!

Email: instructionoffice@fhps.net or nubik@fhps.net

Website: www.fhps.net
Location: 6590 Cascade Road Southeast, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Phone: 616.493.8806
Twitter: @FHPSlearning