Seal of Biliteracy Assessments

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school or district in recognition of students who have attained proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in two or more languages by high school graduation. Idioma’s Seal of Biliteracy assessment program gives students of less commonly taught languages the opportunity to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy for their heritage or native language.

Video sources: Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy Guidance, January 3, 2023 and Global Seal of Biliteracy, sealofbiliteracy.org

How does it work?

Idioma Education & Consulting provides a convenient, accessible, and uniform option for students to submit their language portfolios for reading, writing, speaking and listening evaluation in languages that are not available through standard assessments.

Why is it valuable?

Districts and students are no longer required to recruit and vet a portfolio rater which creates a more equitable rating for all students. Idioma has provided evidence that our raters are:

  • Highly proficient in the languages we rate;

  • Knowledgeable of proficiency levels and the portfolio guidelines;

  • Trained to provide scores that are free of cultural, racial, and linguistic bias; and

  • Charge a fair rate for their services

This assessment validates that a student shows proficiency at an Intermediate High level or above in four domains of communication:

  • Interpretive Listening and Viewing

  • Interpretive Reading

  • Interpersonal Listening/Speaking or Signing

  • Presentational Writing

The proficiency rating is based on the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-do Statements.

  • Intermediate High students can minimally perform these indicators most of the time. (Earns Seal of Biliteracy)

  • Advanced Low students can minimally perform these indicators all the time. (Earns Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction)

Assessment Languages

Our assessments are currently available on an as needed basis. Contact us for more information about the language portfolio assessments we offer, or to request a new language. Languages we have previously assessed include Slovak, Greek, Luganda, Hungarian, Bahasa Indonesian, Bulgarian, Bosnian/Serbo-Croatian, Nepali, Thai, Punjabi and Darija (Moroccan Arabic).

Pricing

Reach out to us at portfolio@idiomaconsulting.com for pricing details. 

Learn more

Districts interested in providing proof of proficiency for their students who are biliterate in less-commonly taught languages should contact Idioma Education 3-6 months prior to graduation.

Departments seeking leveling up strategies for students to gain confidence and skills to reach their proficiency goals should reach out to portfolio@idiomaconsulting.com to schedule a call to discuss workshop details.

Students will access the assessments through Idioma's learning management system where trained assessment raters will evaluate and submit scores. Please note that the assessment rater does NOT provide a proficiency rating, but determines if the student meets the state proficiency requirements to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.

Click on the Alternative Assessments Learning Module button below to learn more about the alternative assessment process: