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Seal of Biliteracy

Seal of Biliteracy

The District’s application to offer the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Seal of Biliteracy program at each of our high schools was approved for the 2024-2025 school year.

The New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) recognizes 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.  

The intent of the NYSSB is to encourage the study of languages; identify high school graduates with language and biliteracy skills for employers; provide universities with additional information about applicants seeking admission; prepare students with twenty-first century skills; recognize the value of world and home language instruction in schools; and affirm the value of diversity in a multilingual society. The NYSSB takes the form of a special seal that bestows an honor to the student. The seal is affixed on the student’s diploma and there is a notation of the award on the official transcript.

Seal of Biliteracy Coordinators

Williamsville East
Lorena Wagar 
716-626-8400
E-mail

Williamsville North
Katherine Rautenstrauch 
716-626-8500
E-mail

Williamsville South
Lori Chilcott 
716-626-8200
E-mail

District Office
Dan Murtha
716-626-8030
E-mail

 

Parent-Student Letters

Additional Parent-Student letters will be available when translation is complete.

Arabic

Kurdish (Badini dialect)

Mandarin Chinese

Pashto

Tamil

Student Requirements

  • Students wishing to receive the NYSSB must complete all requirements for graduating with a NYS Regents diploma*; 
  • In addition to the above minimum requirement, students wishing to receive the NYSSB must earn three (3) points from the English criteria and three (3) points from the World Language criteria.
Seal of Biliteracy requirements chart

 

Seal of Biliteracy requirements chart