Virginia Seal of Biliteracy

Students who attain proficiency in English and one or more world languages by high school graduation earn the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal serves to certify attainment of biliteracy for students, employers, and institutions of higher education. It is a statement of accomplishment that helps to signal evidence of a student’s readiness for career and college, and for engagement as a global citizen.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) awards the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy to students who attain proficiency in English and one or more world languages by high school graduation. Criteria to earn the Seal of Biliteracy include:

• Pass all required end-of-course assessments in English reading and writing at the proficient or higher level in all years in which those assessments were administered
• Demonstrating proficiency at the intermediate-mid level or higher in one or more languages other than English, as demonstrated through a state-approved assessment.

Current PWCS grade 12 students graduating in June or August who have met the English requirements for graduation and any one of the criteria below will automatically receive the seal:

• Earned sub-scores of five or higher on PWCS world languages credit-by-assessment
• Earned a minimum score on a Cambridge International Language exam:
  • A Level: D or higher
  • AS Level: A
• Earned a score of three or higher on a World Language AP exam
• Earned a score of four or higher on an IB World Language exam

Students who wish to earn the Seal of Biliteracy and have not met any of the above criteria, may submit external results from a VDOE-approved test, using the application form linked below, to demonstrate to PWCS evidence of proficiency in a language other than English.

Additional information regarding the criteria for earning the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy, is available on the VDOE website.