Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Assessment Requirements

The Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy requires that a student demonstrates proficiency in English and at least one language other than English.

Proficiency in English

English proficiency may be demonstrated through one of the following, realized during a student’s high school tenure:

  • AAPPL Assessment in English with a score of I-3 or higher.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition with a score of 3 or higher.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall language A or B Assessment (English) grade of 4 or higher
  • American College Test (ACT) with a composite English Language Arts score of 18 or higher.
  • English Language Proficiency Assessment 21 (ELPA) with a combination of scores of 4 or higher.
  • High school transcript showing the equivalent of 6 completed semesters of English Language Arts with course content that includes composition, verbal communication, literature, research skills, and technical reading and writing. Each course must reflect a grade of C or higher.
  • SAT Exam with a composite English score of 480 or higher.
  • STAMP 4S Assessment in English with a score of 5.

Proficiency in a language other than English

Proficiency in a language other than English may be demonstrated through one of the following, realized during a student’s high school tenure:

Name of Assessment Silver Level Qualifications Gold Level Qualification
ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA) I3 (on each section) I5 (on each section)
National Latin Exam Silver medal for Intermediate Reading Comprehension Exam. Gold medal for Intermediate Reading Comprehension Exam; Any medal for Advanced Level Exam.
ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy Intermediate Mid Intermediate High
AAPPL Assessment I3 (on each section) I5 (on each section)
Avant STAMP 4S 5 (on each section) 6 (on each section
Avant WorldSpeak 5 (on each section) 6 (on each section)
Advanced Placement (AP) 3 4
ALTA 5 (on each section) 6 (on each section)
International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A or B Assessment (other than English) 4 5

Students in Dual Language Immersion Programs

Students enrolled in dual language immersion programs may demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one other language using the assessments above. They may also follow the following guidelines.

Gold Level Qualifications (Students will meet 3 of the following)

World Language for World Language Speakers (e.g., Spanish for Spanish Speakers, or Arabic for Arabic Speakers) Level One and Level Two with a C or higher for each course. Course content must include composition, verbal communication, literature, research skills, and technical reading and writing.

AND

The equivalent of two completed semesters from the following choices:

  • World Language for World Language Speakers Level Three or higher with a C or higher for each course
  • Honors World Language for World Language Speakers 3-4, 5-6 with a C or higher for each course
  • AP World Language with a C or higher
  • AP World Language Literature with a C or higher

AND

The equivalent of 3 academic years of World Language content courses

Silver Level Qualifications

World Language for World Language Speakers Level One and Level Two with a C or higher for each course. Course content must include composition, verbal communication, literature, research skills, and technical reading and writing.

AND

The equivalent of two completed semesters from the following choices:

  • World Language for World Language Speakers Level Three or higher with a C or higher for each course
  • AP World Language Language with a C or higher
  • AP World Language Literature with a C or higher

Reference

English Language Learners

Students who are English-language learners are encouraged to apply for the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy in their native language. ELL students do not have to be currently enrolled in a course for the language in which they would like to apply for the Seal. However, students will still have to demonstrate the ability to speak, read, write, and listen in the native language.

Less Commonly Taught Languages

Students of and native speakers of less commonly taught languages are encouraged to apply for the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy. Less commonly taught languages used in Nebraska include, but are not limited to:

Amharic

Arabic

Croatian

Hindi

Japanese

Korean

Portuguese

Russian

Somali Maay Maay

Somali Maxaa

Swahili

Tagalog

Tamil

Telugu

Thai

Ukrainian

Vietnamese

Yoruba

Assessments are available for many of these languages. Please review the table “Languages And Assessments”.

 

Reference: Nebraska Language and Limited English Proficiency Report Card 2021

Languages and Assessments

Language Assessment
American Sign Language (ASL) AAPPL by Language Testing International
Chinese (Mandarin) AAPPL by Language Testing International

AP by College Board

Avant STAMP 4S

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

French AAPPL by Language Testing International

AP by College Board

Avant STAMP 4S

Avant World Speak

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

German AAPPL by Language Testing International

AP by College Board

Avant STAMP 4S

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Japanese AAPPL by Language Testing International

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Latin ALIRA by Language Testing International

AP by College Board

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language B Assessment

Russian AAPPL by Language Testing International

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Spanish AAPPL by Language Testing International

AP by College Board

Avant STAMP 4S

Avant World Speak

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Albanian ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Amharic ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy

Avant World Speak

Arabic AAPPL by Language Testing International

Avant STAMP 4S

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Armenian Avant World Speak
Bangla ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Bosnian ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Bulgarian ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Cantonese ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Chin (Hakha) Avant World Speak
Chuukese Avant World Speak
Croatian ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Czech Avant World Speak
Dari ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Gujarati ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Haitian Creole ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy

Avant World Speak

Hawaiian Avant World Speak
Hebrew ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy

Avant STAMP 4S

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Hindi AAPPL by Language Testing International

Avant STAMP 4S

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Hmong Avant World Speak
Ilocano Avant World Speak
Italian AAPPL by Language Testing International

AP by College Board

Avant STAMP 4S

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Japanese AAPPL by Language Testing International

AP by College Board

Avant STAMP 4S

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Kannada Avant World Speak
Korean AAPPL by Language Testing International

Avant World Speak

Avant STAMP 4S

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Malayalam ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Marathi Avant World Speak
Marshallese Avant World Speak
Pashto ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Polish ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy

Avant STAMP 4S

Portuguese AAPPL by Language Testing International

Avant STAMP 4S

International Baccalaureate (IB) Overall Language A and/or B Assessment

Samoan Avant World Speak
Somali Maay Maay Avant World Speak
Somali Maxaa Avant World Speak
Swahili ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Tagalog ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy

Avant World Speak

Tamil ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy

Avant World Speak

Telugu Avant World Speak
Thai AAPPL by Language Testing International
Turkish ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy

Avant World Speak

Ukrainian ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Urdu ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy

Avant World Speak

Vietnamese ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy

Avant World Speak

Yoruba ACTFL OPI & WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy
Yup’ik Avant World Speak
Zomi Avant World Speak

Alternative Method of Assessment

For languages without available assessments or in circumstances where test administration is cost prohibitive, students must still demonstrate Intermediate Mid or higher proficiency in all skills that are applicable. Assessments should be aligned with the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines for Intermediate High or equivalent and must be pre-approved by the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy governance.

Process to Verify Language Proficiency in Languages Other Than English

If an approved commercial assessment is currently available, the Alternative Method of Assessment may not be used.

When no commercial assessment is currently available, or the cost of the exam is more than $250 per assessment, the student may apply for alternative assessment by writing a letter of petition to the governance of the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy.

The governance of the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy will reach out to a formally trained language speaker and writer of the language who has experience with the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and/or Performance Descriptors for assessment purposes. Colleges, universities, tribal language departments, embassies, or consulates will be consulted nationally and, if needed, internationally.

The tasks required will include listening, reading, speaking, and writing and may use both formal and informal materials and resources. The assessment of the student will be based on the recommendation of the trained language speaker.

Updated March 8, 2024 4:10pm