How to Implement the Global Seal of Biliteracy
for Charter, Private or Independent Schools
The Global Seal of Biliteracy™ is excited to offer this credential to staff and students in charter, private or independent schools who may not be able to earn a Seal of Biliteracy. The Global Seal credentials language learners for workplace-ready skills in two or more languages as demonstrated through externally validated testing. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is awarded at the Functional Fluency™, Working Fluency™ and Professional Fluency™ levels. We provide the advantages of a Seal of Biliteracy to students of charter, private or independent schools who may not be included in state Seal programs. The Global Seal offers bilinguals both recognition and advanced placement opportunities.
The Global Seal is offered for no charge and provides an inclusive opportunity for language users of any age (including staff) or from any school to be credentialed for language skills. A serial-numbered Global Seal of Biliteracy certification can be added to an application, a resumé, C.V. or LinkedIn profile to officially document and articulate one’s proven level of language ability. Your candidates can leverage their language credentials to expand academic or employment opportunities, qualify for a language pay differential or to just celebrate their accomplishments.
Step 1: Apply
Celebrating your language learners with the Global Seal of Biliteracy is a simple process. Go to our website at www.theglobalseal.com to learn about our program. To certify with the Global Seal program, click the APPLY button and fill out the online application. The application will let us know who you are and how we can best help you meet your language credentialing needs. You can fill out the application before or after you have tested students. If your school is new to proficiency testing, it will be helpful to review our qualifying tests and requirements. Our website includes FAQs as well as a contact form for questions. The Global Seal of Biliteracy application, a personalized serial numbered certificate suitable for framing, and fluency level-specific seal are free!
Step 2: Test
To award a Global Seal of Biliteracy, we require validation of language skills in two languages. After completing the online application you’ll receive information on how to submit documentation to prove your candidates’ first or native language proficiency as well as how to provide us with your candidates’ test score(s) for the second language that you wish to credential. Applications in the United States must include English as either their first or second language for their first Global Seal certification. Multilingual candidates are encouraged to earn Global Seal credentials for each language in which they have proficiency. The Global Seal of BIliteracy has approved tests in over 100 languages. Our qualifying tests and requirements can be found at theglobalseal.com/qualified-tests. You can submit results from approved proctored language proficiency tests that have been taken within the last 12 months.
The Global Seal of Biliteracy offers three levels of certification: Functional Fluency™, Working Fluency™ and Professional Fluency™ on both the ACTFL and CEFR proficiency scales. Award testing can be done at any time of the year at any level. Global Seal does not cover the cost of tests. We encourage candidates to take our free language proficiency self-assessment to determine their likely current language level.
Step 3: Receive
Once we have received your school’s application, qualifying test scores, and supporting documentation, eligible candidates will receive a Global Seal! We mail the signed Global Seal of Biliteracy award certificates for each candidate together with embossed seals to your school for free! Then plan your Celebration! Fluency-level medals can be ordered for a small fee if desired.
The Global Seal of Biliteracy™ organization, founded and sponsored by Avant Assessment, has an independent Board of Advisors who advise and guide the program’s mission.
The Global Seal provides schools with resources to promote and support your program, including our "We Credential With" badge.
““We are thrilled to participate in the Global Seal of Biliteracy at the Community School of
Naples, greatly enhancing our students’ future educational and professional opportunities. Not
only will they be awarded an official Seal of Biliteracy at our private school, but they will cross
state and national boundaries, as this Seal is greater than just a state level recognition,
connecting their accomplishments to the global community.””
