The State Seal of Biliteracy, a certificate from the state that is given to seniors who are certified as bilingual, is currently available for students.

“The State Seal of Biliteracy certificate states that students are both fluent in speaking their language as well as another language. It’s designed to celebrate that level of success.” said Vice Principal Brendan Nelson.

To receive the seal, students must pass the English MAP test and complete English Language Arts requirements with a minimum 2.0 GPA. They must also pass an AP Exam for a foreign language with a score of three or higher, or take four years in a foreign language with minimum 3.0 GPA. 

“If students don’t get the Seal of Biliteracy nothing negative will happen to you, it has no impact whatsoever. No one is going to ask if you have the Seal of Biliteracy. You can put it on your resume but it is not something that any employer will ask you, it’s not something that someone in the public is going to ask you,” said American Sign Language teacher Shannon Heller.

While the Seal of Biliteracy offers little actual academic or official advantage, a sense of self accomplishment can be gained through the acknowledgement of the seal.

“I graduated from Amador a few years ago. Honestly, I can say that I have never used the Seal of Biliteracy in any job application or college experience,” said Trevor Kracke (‘18).