The New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB)

The New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages, in addition to English.  The intent of the NYSSB is to encourage the study of languages, to identify high school graduates with language and biliteracy skills for employers, to provide universities with additional information about applicants seeking admission and placement, to prepare students with twenty-first century skills, to recognize the value of world, classical and home language instruction in schools, and to affirm the value of diversity in a multilingual society.

NYSSB Annual Report for 2019-20 Released

The New York State Education Department has released the 2019-20 Report on the New York State Seal of Biliteracy. The report summarizes facts and figures that demonstrate significant growth in this program over the last five years, including an increase in the number of schools offering the Seal and the number of students earning it. The report also identifies future goals for growth areas, strategies to achieve these goals, and provides information regarding how the NYSSB compares to other such programs throughout the country.  Last year, 4,609 students from 292 schools earned the NYSSB in 58 different languages. Since the first year this program was offered, over 12,300 students have earned this distinction.   Click here to download the full report.  Reports from all years available can be downloaded here.

NYSSB Guidance Toolkit is here!  

To assist schools in implementing a NYSSB program, OBEWL in collaboration with the NYSSB Task Force and the Mid-West and Mid-State RBERNs have created a NYSSB Guidance Toolkit that contains a series of self-guiding modules. The modules, consisting of agendas, videos, presentation slides, and supporting documentation, can be used by the NYSSB Committee within a single school or among schools in a consortium looking to implement, improve, or expand their programs.  Click here to explore the various modules that make up the NYSSB Guidance Toolkit.

NYSSB Handbook

The NYSSB Handbook will help districts and schools with  the implementation process, including procedures, criteria, questions and answers, required forms, and resources.  New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools should consult the NYCDOE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for information specific to NYCDOE schools.  Questions from NYCDOE public schools should be directed to Jill Schimmel in the Division of Multilingual Learners (DML@schools.nyc.gov).  Questions from all other schools in New York State (all public schools outside of New York City and all charter and non-public schools in the state, regardless of location) should be directed to Candace Black in the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (candace.black@nysed.gov; 518-473-7505).

Culminating Projects

Students may demonstrate the required level of proficiency for the Seal by completing and presenting a Culminating project, scholarly essay, or portfolio.  Such a project may earn a student two points towards the Seal of Biliteracy for criterion 1E (if completed in English) and/or for criterion 2E (if completed in one or more World Languages).  Projects are to be evaluated using a rubric that is aligned with the target ACTFL Proficiency level.  Schools may develop their own rubrics, which are submitted to NYSED with the NYSSB School Notification Form in December of each year, or they may choose to use the sample OBEWL Culminating Project Rubric.

Required Forms

• School Notification Form
• Culminating Project Notification Form -  Due to the challenges presented by COVID-19 related school closures and remote instruction, OBEWL will not be requiring schools offering the Seal to submit the Culminating Project Notification Form in the 2020-21 school year.
• Seal Request Form 
• End-of-Year Data Form