Seal of Biliteracy

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award granted by a school, district or state to students who have graduated from high school and have acquired proficiency in two or more languages.

The Seal of Biliteracy is an extremely important distinction because it is the first prize for students awarded on the national scale for knowledge of foreign languages. It is a distinction which is placed in the form of a seal on a high school diploma.

Seal of Biliteracy encourages students to continue learning foreign languages and rewards their skills. It is also an important document honored by future employers and universities.

History of Seal of Biliteracy

The Seal of Biliteracy was initiated in California in 2008, at the initiative of parents, teachers, school and civil rights spokesmen involved in improving the quality of education for students with English as a second language. In 2011, legislation creating a California State Seal of Biliteracy was passed. In Illinois, Seal of Biliteracy was approved in 2013. Students were able to take the STAMP-4S exam for the first time to receive the Seal of Biliteracy in April 2018.

Avant Assessment

Avant Assessment has been on the US market since 2001 and is located in the state of Oregon in the city of Eugene. David Bong is the CEO and co-founder of the company with his wife Sheila Bong. Avant Assessment is the answer to the constant need to check and assess the level of foreign language skills in the United States. Competency exams are currently underway for around 40 foreign languages, and the number is constantly increasing.

Test STAMP-4S

STAMP-4S is a standards-based measurement of proficiency 4 skills test that is checking 4 basic language domains: reading, writing, listening and speaking. It is an exam conducted on a computer platform, therefore it is the first nationwide exam in Polish as a second language online. The STAMP-4S test is an adaptive test, i.e. it adapts to the student's level and stimulates his creativity and communication. Students receive a result, i.e. a reference level, of every language skill: reading, listening, writing and speaking. Therefore, everyone who took the exam passes it by placing themselves at the appropriate level. To obtain the Seal of Biliteracy in the State of Illinois, you must obtain an Intermediate - High Level (L-6).

Basic objectives of the STAMP-4S language test

The main purposes of the STAMP-4S language test are:

• qualifying students to receive the Seal of Biliteracy and to receive credits at universities,
• improving the effects of language learning,
• improving language programs,
• providing teachers with data on the level of students' knowledge of the Polish language,
• improving teachers' skills in obtaining better results in the language proficiency process.

STAMP-4S test - language domains

Reading and listening domains

Reading and listening skills are automatically assessed by the computer. These sections are adaptive in the computer program, so the person taking the exam receives questions at various levels. The algorithm used to determine the results for this competence analyzes the number of questions answered correctly at each test level.

Writing and speaking domains

Writing and speaking skills are assessed by Avant examiners who use the generally accepted scoring rubric procedure, appropriate for individual levels of language competence.

Benchmark levels

There are three major levels: novice, intermediate and advanced. There are three sub-levels within each main level: low, mid and high.

Topics guide

Novice level topics

• Presentations: name, address, family status, gender, age, date and place of birth, nationality, language, school, education, profession
• Calendar/ Time
• Colors/ Shapes
• Wild animals/ Pets
• School /Classroom
• Weather / Seasons
• Clothing / footwear
• Food /Beverages /Restaurants / Bars / Dishes
• Places / Geography, location, towns, public institutions, monuments, tourist attractions
• Daily life / Everyday routine
• Shopping / Stores
• Leisure / Activities
• Household / House

Intermediate level topics

• Health
• Holidays / Celebrations
• Occupations / Professions
• Transportations / Travel / Vacations
• Future plans
• Culture
• Contemporary Issues
• Current events
• Economics
• Literature
• Science
• Social Science
• History
• Plus, more in-depth aspects of Novice topics

Advanced level topics

• Arts
• Politics
• Religion
• Math
• Science / Technology
• Plus, more in-depth aspects of Intermediate topics

Prepared by:
Agnieszka Oskiera Ph.D.
Senior Polish Language Rater,
Avant Assessment, Ltd.