Seal of Biliteracy Information

The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy is an award presented to students who have demonstrated proficiency in English and at least one other world language by high school graduation.

Seal of Biliteracy Exam:  Thursday, February 8, 2024
Make-Up/Retake Testing:   March 7, 2024

Seal of Biliteracy Information
Seal of Biliteracy Letter 1/09/2024
Seal of Biliteracy Video - MI Dept of Education

Seal of Biliteracy Application
Completed applications are due in SLHS Student Services by Monday, January 22, 2024.
There is a $10 application fee - payable by cash or check (written to "South Lyon High School").



What is the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy?

  • The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy has been created to recognize high school graduates who exhibit language proficiency in English and at least one additional world language.
  • The Seal may be awarded to any student receiving a high school diploma, a high school certificate of completion, or a high school equivalency certificate AND who has demonstrated Intermediate High proficiency on acceptable world language assessments and met the English Language Arts requirements for graduation.

 What is the purpose of the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy?

  • The Seal was created to encourage students to learn world languages and/or maintain their native and heritage languages.
  • The Seal provides employers with a way to identify individuals with strong language and biliteracy skills.
  • The Seal serves as an additional tool for colleges and universities to recognize applicants’ language abilities for admission and placement.

 Which language domains must be assessed?

  • All pertinent domains of a language must be assessed. Most languages consist of four domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
  • Exception: A domain that does not exist in a particular language (the speaking domain in Latin or the writing domain in Silhet, for example), does not need to be assessed.

 What is the process?

  • Submit Seal of Biliteracy Student Application and fees to Student Services by January 21, 2022.
  •  Applications will be reviewed by the Seal of Biliteracy committee and qualifying students will be contacted with testing information prior to February 8, 2022.
  • After testing, results will be sent home to families.  The names of students scoring 6 or higher (Intermediate-High or above) in all assessed domains will be submitted to the Michigan Department of Education as an applicant for the Seal of Biliteracy. 
  • The state will provide a foil seal for each qualifying student’s diploma and he/she will be recognized as having earned the seal at graduation.