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State Seal of Biliteracy FAQs

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB).

For more information about the State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB), including resources and guidance, please visit the California Department of Education (CDE) SSB web page.

2024–25 Specific FAQs

  1. Have the State SSB requirements changed for 2025 graduates?
  2. When does Assembly Bill (AB) 370 go into effect?
  3. Where can I find guidance on the new SSB requirements?

General FAQs

  1. What is the SSB?
  2. How can I learn if our district’s graduates are eligible for the SSB?
  3. What kind of insignia will be provided by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction?
  4. What information does the CDE request from local educational agencies (LEAs) in order to award seals?
  5. How can LEAs submit the SSB information to the CDE?
  6. When is the deadline to submit the Insignia Request Form?
  7. When will the CDE send the requested insignias to LEAs?
  8. Is there a cost associated with the SSB?
  9. How can LEAs ensure they have a sufficient number of insignias to award seals to all students who meet the requirements for earning the SSB by the end of their senior year?
  10. Does SSB information need to be reported through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS)?
  11. What is the benefit of having the SSB insignia on a diploma or transcript?
  12. How many students have received the SSB?
  13. Where can I find more information about the SSB?
  14. What are the requirements for earning the SSB?
  15. What is a "successor test," as referenced in Education Code (EC) Section 51461(a)(1)(B)?
  16. In which languages may the SSB be awarded?
  1. To be eligible for the SSB, in which of the domains must candidates demonstrate proficiency?
  2. Can the SSB be awarded in American Sign Language (ASL)?
  3. Can the SSB be awarded in a language that does not have a written system?
  4. Can students qualify for the SSB in more than one language?
  5. If a student seeks to qualify for the SSB through an assessment administered in grade 12 and they do not receive their scores until after graduation, can the student still earn the SSB?
  6. May an LEA use a locally approved assessment to determine proficiency in a world language other than English for the SSB?
  7. Can an LEA create an exam to assess proficiency in a world language other than English for the SSB?
  1. Are there any assessments which districts have approved locally to assess world languages proficiency in a language other than English for the SSB?
  2. How can an LEA submit a locally approved assessment to be included in the list of locally approved world language assessments posted on the CDE SSB web page?
  3. If a student tests into a higher level world language course and completes through year four of that language with a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), would that student qualify for the SSB even if the student did not complete level 1, 2, 3, and 4 in high school?
  4. When can courses completed at a college or university satisfy the requirement for a four-year high school course of study in a world language for SSB eligibility?
  5. Can courses completed in another country count toward a four-year high school course of study in a world language for SSB eligibility?
  6. Can courses completed at a community college or university satisfy the English language arts (ELA) coursework option for demonstrating proficiency in English for the SSB?
  7. If a district counts an English language development (ELD) class as an ELA class for its graduation requirements, can that class satisfy the ELA coursework option for demonstrating proficiency in English for the SSB?
  1. Can the SSB be awarded prior to grade 12?
  2. Do colleges and universities recognize the SSB?
  3. Are the requirements for the SSB different for students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
  4. Can students who attend private school qualify for the SSB?
  5. How can I learn about other Seal of Biliteracy programs?
  6. How can I contact the CDE if I have questions?
Questions:   Multilingual Support Division | SEAL@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0265
Last Reviewed: Thursday, October 3, 2024
Recently Posted in Multilingual Learners