Seal of Biliteracy
ETHS students have the opportunity to earn the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy, an official recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education for demonstrating proficiency in English and at least one additional language. Students who qualify will have the Seal placed on their diploma and noted on their official transcript.
What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award that recognizes high school students who can read, write, speak, and understand English and another language at the Intermediate High level of proficiency or higher.
Why earn the Seal of Biliteracy?
Students who receive the Seal may benefit in several ways:
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Strengthen college and career applications
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Use proficiency levels for scholarship and job opportunities
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Earn college credit (Illinois public colleges and universities are required to award credit to students who earn the Seal)
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Better understand personal language proficiency and set advanced language-learning goals
| Approved Languages at ETHS (2025-26) | |
|---|---|
| American Sign Language | Japanese |
| Arabic | Latin |
| Chinese | Korean |
| French | Polish |
| German | Portuguese |
| Hebrew | Russian |
| Hindi | Spanish |
| Italian | |
Speak, read, or write a language not listed?
Contact World Languages Department Chair Mrs. D’Onofrio at donofrior@eths202.org to explore eligibility.
Qualifying for the Seal of Biliteracy
To earn the Seal of Biliteracy, seniors must demonstrate proficiency in English and in one additional language by meeting the minimum required scores on approved assessments.
| English Proficiency Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| To demonstrate proficiency in English, students must receive the minimum score on one of the following assessments. | ||
| Assessment | Minimum Score for Commendation toward Biliteracy | Minimum Score for Seal of Biliteracy |
| SAT | 480 on the ELA | 480 on the ELA |
| ACT | 21 Composite Score or 20 on the English section | 21 Composite Score or 20 on the English section |
| AAPPL Test (English) | Intermediate Low (I-1) on all 4 components | Intermediate Low (I-1) on all 4 components |
| ACCESS for ELLs | 3.5 on the Literacy Component | 4.8 overall |
| AP English and Composition Exam | 3 | 4 |
| Proficiency in a Language Other than English | ||
|---|---|---|
| To demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English, students must receive the minimum score on one of the following assessments. | ||
| Assessment | Minimum Score for Commendation toward Biliteracy | Minimum Score for Seal of Biliteracy |
| AAPPL (Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing) | Intermediate Low (I-1) on all 4 components | Intermediate High (I-5) on all 4 components |
| AP Exam | 3 | 4 |
| ALIRA Exam (Latin) | Intermediate Low (I-1) | Intermediate High (I-5) |
Seal of Biliteracy Testing
Some students will complete testing during their language class. Check with your teacher to confirm whether in-class testing applies to you.
If not, ETHS will offer additional testing opportunities from January 13–February 21, 2026. Students may:
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Test at home on their own, or
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Test in the Language Lab (E314) during a free period or lunch
Students should register using the Seal of Biliteracy Sign-up Form.
For questions, contact Ms. D’Onofrio, World Languages Department Chair and coordinator of the State Seal of Biliteracy Program, at donofrior@eths202.org.
Contact Information
World Languages Department
E310
Rachel D'Onofrio
Department Chair
Phone: (847)424-7450
Email: donofrior@eths202.org
