Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Golden State Seal Merit Diploma

To be eligible for the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, students must be receiving a high school diploma from their district and have earned designated results on six qualifying examinations.

Golden State Seal Procedures Letter (Dated 16-Feb-2024)
Letter to high school and unified school district superintendents and charter school administrators.

Golden State Seal Eligibility Requirements
Criteria for eligibility for award.

Certification of Award Summary Sheet Template (XLSX)
Spreadsheet for recording qualifying scores, for local use only.

Golden State Seal Request Form (PDF)
For district or charter school use. Must be signed and returned to the California Department of Education. Return address is on page two.

Promotional Flyer (PDF)
Provides information on the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma.

Questions and Answers
Golden State Seal Merit Diploma FAQs.

Questions:   Golden State Seal Merit Diploma | gssmd@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0758
Last Reviewed: Monday, February 26, 2024
Recently Posted in Testing

  • Assessment Spotlight, Issue 297 (added 29-Oct-2024)
    California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) email update, October 18, 2024.
  • 2024 Assessment Data Release FAQs (added 11-Oct-2024)
    Frequently asked questions related to the release of 2024 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) statewide results.
  • Assessment Spotlight, Issue 294 (added 30-Sep-2024)
    California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) email update, September 27, 2024.
  • Assessment Spotlight, Issue 292 (added 25-Sep-2024)
    California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) email update, September 13, 2024.
  • Assessment Spotlight, Issue 293 (added 25-Sep-2024)
    California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) email update, September 20, 2024.