Seal of Biliteracy
Dedham Public Schools is one of over 150 districts around Massachusetts who awards a State Seal of Biliteracy distinction on Dedham High School diplomas.
The Seal is awarded to students that demonstrate proficiency in two languages; English and one other language. Students are awarded the Seal of Biliteracy after completing a four-part exam to measure interpretive listening, interpretive reading, interpersonal speaking and presentational writing. To earn the Seal students must score Intermediate HIGH in all 4 Domains and an have an MCAS score of 501 or higher. To earn a Seal with Distinction, students must score Advanced Low in all 4 Domains and have an MCAS score of 472-500.
“The ability to earn a noted distinction that recognizes a student’s mastery of another language not only showcases the hard work of our students to learn language skills critical to a global society, but it's also a wonderful way to empower our English Language Learners.” Alison Guifarro, DHS Foreign Language Department Chair
About The Seal
The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy was introduced in 2018 by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and first awarded to students in 2019. As noted by the Department of Education, the vision for the program is “to help students recognize the value of their academic success and see the tangible benefits of being bilingual.” The inclusion of the Seal on a student transcript or diploma provides a validated statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admissions to recognize people with biliteracy skills.