To receive the Seal of Biliteracy, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Meet all graduation requirements

2. Show English proficiency by receiving:
• A minimum score of 472 on MCAS OR
• A score between 455-471 on MCAS, complete an Educational Proficiency Plan, and receive an overall composite score of 4.2 and a composite literacy score of 3.9 on the WIDA ACCESS test
3. Show proficiency in an additional language by receiving:
• A minimum score of Intermediate High on the STAMP Assessment or portfolio review
• A 4 or higher on the AP Language test/a 5 or higher on the IB Exam

To learn more about the MA State Seal of Biliteracy, you can visit the following websites:

• MA State Seal of Biliteracy Presentation to BPS High Schools

• DESE - Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy Website

• sealofbiliteracy.org

For your graduation, you will receive the Seal itself, a set of chords to wear around your neck, and a Certificate that designate your attainment of the MA State Seal of Biliteracy. Additionally, your attainment of the Seal will be announced during the ceremony. 

If you are interested in obtaining the MA State Seal of Biliteracy, please speak to your world language teacher, any of your dual language teachers, school counselors, or your principal. They will be able to connect you with the person who is in charge of the MA State Seal of Biliteracy at your school. If you are not able to identify that person, please contact us using the contact info below.

The MA State Seal of Biliteracy can be leveraged for college applications, receiving a world language college credit, during military recruitment process, during job interviews, and numerous other ways. 

Yes! It does not matter where you learned your additional language, you can qualify for the MA State Seal of Biliteracy as long as you are a Grade 12 BPS student on track to graduate and meet the MA State Seal of Biliteracy eligibility criteria.  

The MA State Seal of Biliteracy is provided to all eligible and interested students at no cost. Boston Public Schools pays the cost for all assessments.

Assessments are available in many languages via AVANT Assessment or ALTA Language Testing

If you speak a language that is not on the list, you can complete a portfolio that demonstrates your language proficiency. The portfolio will be assessed by a trained native speaker of the target language.