Seal of Biliteracy
Rockford Public Schools has established the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy program.
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award approved by the State Board of Education and given by the school district, county, or State Board of Education in recognition of students who have studied and attained a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English, by high school graduation.
A student's language proficiency level is determined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language's Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) test.
Seal of Biliteracy Benefits
It inspires students to study languages.
Learners pursuing biliteracy strengthen their 21st century skills.
The possibility of college credit. Language credentials that provide evidence of a certain proficiency level support advanced placement, scholarship and internship applications and expanded workplace opportunity and pay differentials.
Student ability to communicate in two or more languages strengthens relationships with peers across language groups.
It affirms the value of diversity and honors the multiple cultures and languages of a community.
How to Qualify
Students must demonstrate proficiency in English by:
- Earning a minimum score of 5 in the Advanced Placement (AP) English exam, or
- Earning a minimum score of 21 in Reading/Writing on the ACT exam, or
- Earning a minimum score of 480 in Reading/Writing on the SAT exam, or
- Earning a minimum overall score of 4.8 on the ACCESS 2.0 for ELLs exam, or
- Earning a minimum score of I-5 requirement in each domain (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing) in the AAPPL English Exam
Students must also demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by:
- Earning a 4 on a language specific Advanced Placement (AP) exam or
- Earn a minimum score of I-5 on the ACTFL’s Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) exam. The following languages can be assessed with the AAPPL exam: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
English Proficiency Options and Eligibility
| General Education Students Including Former ELs | EL Students |
|---|---|
|
Proficiency Options SAT 480 ELA or AP 4 A student is enrolled in a foreign language class or is proficient in a native language. |
Proficiency Options ACCESS 4.8 Overall or SAT 480 ELA or AP 4 |
|
AAPPL English Current seniors who have not passed SAT (480) or AP (4) can opt to take the AAPPL English. |
AAPPL English Current seniors who have not met state exit criteria can take the AAPPL English. |
FAQs
- What is the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages?
- When is testing?
- How much does the test cost?
- How do I register for test?
- What if I don't pass the AAPPL Exam?
- Where can I find more information?