Michigan Seal of Biliteracy
Department of Education Information Brochure - Seal of Biliteracy
Seal of Biliteracy Application - Come to the high school office for the application.
Celebrating Michigan’s culture and linguistic capital
Q: What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
The seal has been created to encourage students to study world languages and embrace their native and heritage languages. The seal will provide employers with a way to identify individuals with strong language and biliteracy skills. The seal may serve as an additional tool for colleges and universities to recognize applicants’ language abilities for admission and placement.
Q: What is the value of learning and maintaining world languages and cultures?
Developing language proficiency and cultural competence strengthens intergroups relationships, affirms the value of diversity, and honors the multiple cultures and languages of a community. Michigan's adoption of a Seal of Biliteracy sets a standard and expectation for our students who clearly value learning world languages as well as maintaining native and heritage languages and cultures in our schools, homes, and communities.
Q: Who can receive the seal?
The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy requires students to meet the following criteria:
* Meet graduation requirements
* Demonstrate intermediate high proficiency on a world language assessment
Q: What is the timeline for testing?
The Michigan department of education recommends that a student’s proficiency be tested for the purpose of awarding the seal beginning his or her second semester of the junior year through the end of the first semester of the senior year of high school. Note that students tested in their senior year may not receive test results until summer of their graduating year. As a result, the seal will be awarded retroactively following graduation.
Q: What is the cost?
There is no cost to the student to apply for the voluntary Seal of Biliteracy. However, students are responsible for any assessments fees not covered by their school or school district.
