Requirements for Earning an Ohio Seal of Biliteracy

To determine student eligibility to earn an Ohio Seal of Biliteracy, the answer must be an unqualified “Yes” to all the following questions:

1. Is the student eligible to earn a high school diploma? Qualifiers:
a. Is the student currently a senior or a junior in good standing within 15 months of graduating?

b. Does the student attend a school that is officially participating in the state’s Seal of Biliteracy program – or – is he or she an eligible home-schooled student?

2. Has the student met one of the English language arts proficiency requirements for earning a Seal of Biliteracy?
Qualifiers:

a. Earned a proficient level or higher on Ohio’s required state tests for high school English language arts I and II; or
b. Earned a remediation-free score on the English and reading sections of the ACT or SAT; or c. Earned a proficient level or higher on an Ohio Department of Education-approved alternative
assessment (TerraNova or Iowa Test); or

d. Earned a score of proficient or higher on the 9-12 Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA).

3. Has the student satisfied one of the foreign language proficiency requirements for earning a Seal of Biliteracy?
Qualifiers:

a. Passed an Advanced Placement (AP) foreign language examination with a score of 4 or higher; or

b. Passed an International Baccalaureate (IB) foreign language examination with a score of 5 or higher on the Higher Level exam or a score of 6 or higher on the Standard Level exam; or
c. Attained a score of Intermediate High or higher in comprehension, speaking, reading and writing the foreign language based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines found at actfl.org/, using assessments approved by the Ohio Department of Education; or
d. Qualified for proficiency-based credits through Ohio’s credit flexibility program and attained a score of Intermediate High or higher in comprehension, speaking, reading and writing based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines using assessments approved by the Ohio Department of Education; or
e. Attained a score equivalent to Intermediate High or higher on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines in interpersonal signing, presentational signing and demonstrating understanding of American Sign Language on an American Sign Language assessment approved by the Ohio Department of Education; or
f. Attained a score equivalent to Intermediate High or higher on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines in interpretive reading and presentational writing on a classical language assessment approved by the Ohio Department of Education.

January 2018