The State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB), codified in California Education Code (EC) sections 51460–51464, provides recognition to high school students who have demonstrated proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. Each school district, county office of education (COE), or direct-funded charter school that confers the SSB is required to maintain appropriate records in order to identify students who have met the established criteria for the award and to affix the SSB insignia to the diploma or transcript of each qualifying student.

Per EC Section 51461(a), to qualify for the SSB, high school graduates must meet all of the following criteria:

Completion of all English Language Arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above in those classes.
Passing the California Standards Test in English Language Arts administered in grade eleven at the Proficient level or above. (Interim eligibility requirements for this criterion are on the California Department of Education [CDE] SSB Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/sealofbiliteracy.asp.)
Proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English, demonstrated through one of the following methods:
Passing a foreign language Advanced Placement (AP) examination with a score of 3 or higher or an International Baccalaureate examination with a score or 4 or higher.

Successful completion of a four-year high school course of study in a foreign (world) language and attainment of an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above in that course of study.

If no AP examination or off-the-shelf language test exists and the school district can certify to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) that the test meets the rigor of a four-year high school course of study in that foreign (world) language, passing a school district language examination that, at a minimum, assesses speaking, reading, and writing in a language other than English at the Proficient level or higher. If a school district offers an examination in a language in which an AP examination or off-the-shelf language test does exist, the school district language examination shall be approved by the SSPI for the purpose of determining proficiency in a language other than English.

Passing the Scholastic Assessment Test II Foreign Language Examination with a score of 600 or higher.
Per EC Section 51461(b), if the primary language of a pupil in any of grades nine through twelve (inclusive) is other than English, he or she shall do both of the following in order to qualify for the SSB:

Attain the early advanced proficiency level on the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). For the purpose of determining SSB eligibility, a participating school district may administer the CELDT test an additional time as necessary.

Meet all the criteria listed above in EC sections 51461(a)(1)(2) and (3).

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