• Idaho Seal of Biliteracy

    The Idaho Seal of Biliteracy is an award given to high school students who have attained proficiency in English and one or more languages other than English. The Biliteracy Diploma bears the seal that recognizes a student who has attained biliteracy by high school graduation. The recognition of attaining biliteracy becomes part of the high school transcript and diploma and serves to certify attainment of biliteracy for students, employers and post-secondary institutions.

    See below for qualification information. Interested students that have not already met the Seal qualifications are invited to test for their Seal of Biliteracy during Spring of their senior year. 

  • Pathways to the Biliteracy Diploma 

    1. Meeting AP Requirement of 3 or Higher:
      • Any student who completes an AP World Language course can take the AP Exam in that language. This includes students enrolled in AP through their high school or through another institution or program. Funding for the test may be available through a student’s Advanced Opportunities account.
      • Note: Students who are in the District’s Dual Immersion Program are expected to take the AP Spanish Language & Culture course, usually by sophomore year, to be considered a program completer (in addition to meeting other credit requirements). 
    2. Meeting the Intermediate-Mid or Higher Proficiency Requirement:
      • Students can apply to take the ACTFL to determine whether they meet the Intermediate Mid proficiency level or higher requirement in their senior year of high school. Students eligible to apply are those who meet one of the following:
        • completed World Language courses through Level 2 in high school;
        • are English Learners, to include those identified as Newcomers, who demonstrate evidence of being literate in a language other than English
        • can demonstrate evidence of being literate in a language other than English (e.g. have studied languages on their own, spent time in a foreign country as an exchange student,  learned how to speak, read, and write in a language other than English at home, students who transfer from a Dual Immersion program in BCSD or another district)
      • The AAPPL test taken by students who attend Wood River Middle School in 8th grade will not qualify a student. The test must be taken during their high school tenure.
    3. Qualifying through competency-based credits:
      • The BCSD College & Career Advisor will work with the registrar at each high school to determine which students have demonstrated proficiency by previously earning A and B grades in four (4) courses.
      • The world language department determined this requirement meets the intermediate mid-level or higher ACTFL level in Spanish coursework only, not French.
      • The qualifying courses are:
        • Spanish 4A
        • Spanish 4B
        • Spanish 5A
        • Spanish 5B
        • Advanced Spanish Speaking & Writing A
        • Advanced Spanish Speaking & Writing B