Below are frequently asked questions regarding the New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) and what is needed to attain it.
What is the New York State Seal of Biliteracy?
What is the purpose of the Seal?
What is the criteria for earning the NYSSB?
What level of proficiency is required in order to earn the NYSSB?
Who will evaluate my level of proficiency and how?
When, how, where do I apply for the NYSSB?
What is the New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB)?
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award in recognition of students who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more World Languages in addition to English by the time they graduate from high school. The Seal of Biliteracy consists of an official stamp or sticker on your diploma and is also documented on your high school transcript. It recognizes that you are biliterate according to the standards set by the New York State Education Department.
Who awards the NYSSB?
Both the New York State Education Department and the Pine Bush Central School District award the Seal of Biliteracy. Selection of potential candidates and evaluation according to the New York State Education Department criteria is conducted through the combined efforts of the English Language Arts Department, English as a New Language Department and World Languages Department of PBHS.
What is the purpose of the Seal?
The purpose of NYSSB is to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.
What is the criteria for earning the NYSSB?
The NYSSB candidate must:
- Complete all requirements for graduating with a NYS Regents diploma
- Earn three points in English and three points in another world language using the NYSSB point system to demonstrate proficiency in English and another language.
What is biliteracy?
Biliteracy is the capacity to converse, read and write proficiently in two languages. The term proficient is referring to a speaker who, while very skilled in the use of a language, uses the language with greater formality and less familiarity than a native or fluent speaker.
What level of proficiency is required in order to earn the NYSSB?
The American Council on the Teaching of a Foreign Language (ACTFL) recognizes four levels of proficiency:
- novice
- intermediate
- advanced
- superior
The first three levels are subdivided into low, mid and high.
To be considered proficient under NYSSB would be to demonstrate the
skills of an intermediate high level.
Who will evaluate my level of proficiency and how?
A fluent speaker/mentor/teacher of the language or a group of fluent speakers will evaluate proficiency in the target language. There are also testing opportunities to evaluate proficiency levels from a variety of testing organizations.
English Language proficiency will be evaluated through NYS Regents Exams, NYSESLAT for English Language Learners, 11th and 12th grade ELA courses, AP English Language or Literature Exams, TOEFL for English Language Learners, and/or the 12th grade ELA Research Paper.
When, How, Where do I apply for the NYSSB?
You may access the application form here, from your school counselor or your world language or ENL teacher.
Complete the online application and submit in the fall.
To show proficiency in a language other than English:
If you choose Spanish, you will be required to enroll in the highest level Spanish course (College Spanish 4 or 5) offered in the Pine Bush Central School District. During the course of the class you will create a digital folder of activities/projects demonstrating your Spanish language skills across the three modes: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational.
You will choose from these activities/projects and prepare an oral presentation
to be presented to a committee in the spring.
If you choose another language, you will complete a written project on a topic of your choice under the guidance of a fluent speaker/mentor or your ENL teacher. You will have to present your work to a panel of fluent speakers and answer their questions about it. Of course, this will have to be done in the target world language.
To show proficiency in the English language:
All candidates will have to meet the English language requirement via the
AP and /or Regents test scores, earning an 85 or higher in English 11 and
12, or earning an 85 or higher on the senior research paper.
English Language Learners will be assessed using a rubric specific to ELL.