Seal of Biliteracy

New Jersey State Seal of Biliteracy

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) offers the option for graduating high school students to attain the State Seal of Biliteracy by demonstrating proficiency in English and one or more world languages. 

Students who attain this distinction receive an NJDOE-issued certificate and transcript notation indicating the awarding of the Seal of Biliteracy, a program that was enacted by the legislature in 2016. The NJDOE has developed criteria to designate students as biliterate. 

For more detailed information on the criteria, visit the NJDOE Seal of Biliteracy webpage.

Note: Modifications have been made to the process by which this year’s graduating students can demonstrate proficiency in English and one or more world languages because of COVID-19 and are outlined in this New Jersey Department of Education memo.
  1. Demonstrated proficiency in English by meeting English language arts graduation requirements or attained the appropriate cut score on the ACCESS for ELLs assessment (for English Language Learners); and

  2.  Demonstrated a linguistic proficiency level of at least Intermediate Mid according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines, or demonstrated a level deemed equivalent to Intermediate Mid for languages such as American Sign Language or Native American languages.
NJ State Seal of Biliteracy 2022-2023 Brochure