Skip To Main Content

Seal of Biliteracy- Frequently Asked Questions

Is my student required to complete the Biliteracy Award portfolio?

    • No, the Biliteracy Award is an optional endeavor that students and families may choose to engage in to earn an additional distinction at promotion from 5th and 8th grades.
    • The elementary and middle school Biliteracy Awards are not prerequisite requirements to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy in high school.

How do teachers support student completion of Biliteracy Award Criteria?

    • Beginning in the 4th and 8th grades, teachers will introduce the Biliteracy Award criteria.
    • Throughout 4th and 5th grades for elementary and 8th grade for middle school, teachers will support students in developing the skills necessary to successfully complete the portfolio criteria; however students would need to devote time outside of school hours to complete portfolio activities.
    • Teachers may provide some time during class for students to work on portfolio components; however students would need to devote time outside of school hours to complete portfolio activities.

 How can parents support student completion of Biliteracy Award Criteria?

  • Helping your child manage time and organizational skills such as establishing a schedule for completing requirements
  • Establishing a comfortable workspace with limited distractions for reading and writing projects
  • Providing guidance without doing the work or completing projects for your child
  • Providing direction and encouragement
  • Maintaining ongoing dialogue with teachers to stay aware of your child’s progress
  • Encouraging your child to reach out to a teacher with any questions or concerns
  • Accompanying your child to community service activities and/or cultural events
    • Parents can support students by: 
    • Helping your child manage time and organizational skills such as establishing a schedule for completing requirements  
    • Establishing a comfortable workspace with limited distractions for reading and writing projects
    • Providing guidance without doing the work or completing projects for your child
    • Providing direction and encouragement
    • Maintaining ongoing dialogue with teachers to stay aware of your child’s progress
    • Encouraging your child to reach out to a teacher with any questions or concerns
    • Accompanying your child to community service activities and/or cultural events

 Do the award criteria measure whether a child is achieving at grade level?

    • The Biliteracy Award criteria aims to recognize accomplishment in bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural competencies, which includes activities beyond grade-level assignments.
    • Assessment scores are not the only indicator of a students’ progress toward language acquisition. Parents/guardians should maintain regular communication with a child’s teacher/s to stay aware of academic progress, for support in interpreting your test scores or grades, and/or to discuss any concerns about their child’s language development.

What are the language proficiency targets?

    • Language proficiency targets vary by program:

What opportunities are available for community service?

Should parents share the Biliteracy Award criteria with their younger children?

    • Students are encouraged to pursue a love of reading and community service opportunities at any age; however only activities in 4th and 5th grades (elementary) and 8th grade (middle school) are counted toward the Biliteracy Award.

What do students receive who achieve the Biliteracy Award requirements?

    • Students earn a Certificate of Achievement, awarded by the school site, in recognition of their efforts to be awarded at the end of the student’s 5th or 8th grade school year.

Are the high school assessments in the target language?

    • High School Biliteracy Award criteria are established by the State of California. Target language assessment options include a World Language AP exam, an International Baccalaureate exam, SAT II world language exam, or a district level exam that assess speaking, reading and writing passing at a proficient level or higher.
    • High School Biliteracy Award Criteria

Can we add to the high school biliteracy award to include internships, college-level classes, or IB classes?

    • High School Biliteracy Award criteria are established by the State of California. However, students are encouraged to engage in coursework and activities that contribute to a well-rounded biliterate, bilingual and bicultural experience.