Seal of Biliteracy

The Washington State Seal of Biliteracy (RCW 28A.300.575) recognizes public high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more world languages in addition to English. "Participating school districts with students eligible to receive the Seal, shall place a notation on a student's high school diploma and high school transcript indicating that the student has earned the seal." (RCW 28A.230.125) (retrieved 12/12/2019 OSPI Washington State Seal of Biliteracy)

The Washington Association for Language Teaching (WAFLT) encourages all public school districts to recognize students who qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy. Many districts present Seal of Biliteracy medallions to graduating seniors to wear at graduation. The Seal of Biliteracy imprint for creating embossed diploma labels or medallions is available on request to worldlanguage@k12.wa.us. Medallions for the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy can be ordered through Burien Trophy Online or Email. The cost ranges from $5.50 to $3.95 per medallion depending on the volume purchased.

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Global Seal of Biliteracy

WAFLT also encourages districts, schools, and students to pursue the new Global Seal of Biliteracy, an initiative launched in fall 2018. Students who qualify for our State Seal of Biliteracy may also use their test results to qualify for the Global Seal, if the language testing occurred within a year of the application. The Global Seal is able to recognize multiple levels of proficiency:

• Functional Fluency (ACTFL Proficiency level Intermediate Mid, like our State Seal of Biliteracy)
• Working Fluency (ACTFL Proficiency level Advanced Low)
• Professional Fluency (ACTFL Proficiency level Advanced High)

Students who have qualified as Proficient for our State Seal of Biliteracy before their senior year could apply for the Global Seal before high school graduation if they can meet the English language requirement for the Global Seal. Then, students would be able to list the Global Seal of Biliteracy on their college applications during senior year. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is also available to students who are not attending a public high school in Washington. In fact, anyone of any age could apply for the Global Seal if they can meet the language requirements. The WAFLT Testing Team is launching an initiative to encourage teachers who have language skills (whether World Language Endorsed or not) to take the step of earning the Global Seal of Biliteracy in their language (or languages) to help show the value of demonstrating proficiency in more than one language.

Teachers can participate in remote-proctored STAMP TESTING FOR GLOBAL SEAL OF BILITERACY. You’ll be able to order the English STAMP (to demonstrate English proficiency/literacy) and any of the other languages offered by Avant Assessment in their STAMP tests. (You’ll need results for both to qualify for the Global Seal of Biliteracy.) WAFLT is pleased to offer this opportunity to our members. If you’re interested but not a member yet, you can join now.