The Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy

The Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy

The Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy was initiated by DPI in 2015 to recognize and celebrate the linguistic assets of multilingual learners in our state. It is an industry-recognized credential awarded to students who have attained proficiency in English and one or more additional languages by high school graduation. All fifty states and the District of Columbia support the Seal of Biliteracy program in their educational systems.

In providing Wisconsin students with the opportunity to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, DPI clearly communicates the value of bilingualism and intercultural skills in our schools, communities, and workforce. We know that being able to interact effectively and respectfully with people across languages and cultures increases student opportunities for future success!

The Seal of Biliteracy is a way of formally recognizing the linguistic skills of the growing number of students in our state who come to school speaking languages other than English. The Seal of Biliteracy program also reflects DPI’s belief that all students deserve access to the benefits of language, intercultural, and global learning. It is our hope that the Seal of Biliteracy encourages districts across the state to provide on-going opportunities for students to learn, develop, and sustain languages and intercultural communication skills.

Seal of Biliteracy Overview

Check out this DPI-developed video for a brief overview of Wisconsin’s Seal of Biliteracy program!

District Process for Implementing the Seal of Biliteracy Program

Wisconsin school districts interested in recognizing students' multilingualism are encouraged to register for and implement the Seal of Biliteracy program in their schools. The graphic below shows the steps in the registration and implementation process.

Seal of Biliteracy registration forms are accepted on a rolling basis. However, districts are strongly encouraged to start the planning process the spring or summer before the school year in which the Seal of Biliteracy will first be implemented.

Seal of Biliteracy Registration Form and Planning, Registration and Implementation Guide

Districts wishing to implement the Seal of Biliteracy are required to submit a Seal of Biliteracy registration form to DPI. The form asks districts to indicate their commitment to implementing the key components of a successful Seal of Biliteracy program and to complete an assessment plan. Districts are also asked to provide contact information for key personnel, including the district administrator, the district assessment coordinator, and the Seal of Biliteracy coordinator.

When all sections of the form have been completed and the “Submit” button has been clicked, it will be sent to each of the listed district contacts for their review and signature. Once all district signatures have been obtained, the form will be officially submitted to DPI and the district will be registered to implement the Seal of Biliteracy. Registration will not be considered complete until all listed district contacts have electronically signed the form.

Access the Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy Registration Form

Prior to submitting the registration form, districts are encouraged to assemble a leadership team and read through the Seal of Biliteracy District Planning, Registration, and Implementation Guide. The guide is aligned to the registration form and provides details about the district commitments included in the form. It also has a series of guiding questions that are intended to help district Seal of Biliteracy leadership teams develop a plan for successful implementation of the program.

Download Seal of Biliteracy Planning, Registration, and Implementation Guide

Seal of Biliteracy Assessment Resources

To qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy in Wisconsin, students must achieve Intermediate High proficiency or better on a language proficiency assessment that is aligned to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and assesses all relevant language domains (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).

DPI does not maintain a list of approved Seal of Biliteracy assessments. When completing the assessment plan, districts should use the Global Seal of Biliteracy Test Finder tool to identify qualifying assessments. Assessments for some of the less commonly taught languages that are spoken by Wisconsin students are also available through DPI’s partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education and Extempore. Visit the Extempore website for more information. If no assessment currently exists for a particular language, please contact DPI for assistance.

• A list of the criteria that students must meet to earn the Seal of Biliteracy can be found here: Seal of Biliteracy Criteria At-a-Glance
• A list of commonly used language proficiency assessments and qualifying scores can be found here: Common Language Assessments and Qualifying Scores for the Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy
• A list of available assessments for common languages spoken or studied by Wisconsin students can be found here: Seal of Biliteracy Assessments for the Most Common Languages Spoken by Wisconsin Students

Please note that the assessment lists above are not exhaustive and there may be other options available. Districts should use the Global Seal of Biliteracy Test Finder tool to identify qualifying assessments. Districts are responsible for contracting with assessment vendors and scheduling student assessments.