The New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) is a formal recognition awarded to graduating seniors who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and one or more world languages. To earn the Seal, students must meet rigorous criteria, including earning a specific number of points through high school coursework, state exams, and a Culminating Project presented to a panel of experts. For New York students, pursuing the Seal is a powerful way to validate their linguistic and cultural identity while gaining a competitive edge. It not only distinguishes college applications and resumes but can also lead to advanced course placement or university credit, all while celebrating the 21st-century skills necessary for success in our global economy.
Key Takeaways for NYS Students Point System:
Cost-Free: There is no fee to apply for or receive the Seal in New York State.
You must earn 3 points in English and 3 points in a World Language. This can be achieved through grades, AP/IB scores, or the Culminating Project.
The Honors: Earners receive a gold seal on their diploma, a formal notation on their transcript, and a medallion to wear at graduation.
Universal Eligibility: This is open to everyone, English Language Learners (ELLs), heritage speakers, and students learning a new language in school.
In the following reflections, participating students and their teachers provide their thoughts regarding their motivations for seeking the Seal of Biliteracy, their processes, and why future students should take advantage of such a program.
Thank you to Ms. Soto for leading this important effort, and to advisors Mr. Familia, Ms. Olivares, and Mrs. Sabic for their guidance and support of their students throughout the process.
Ms. Oliveras’ remarks:
Like every year, this year’s Seal of Biliteracy presentations were deeply emotional and meaningful. The presentations are often incredibly relatable, and it is not uncommon for there to be tears in the room, both from presenters and audience members. While the journey can be demanding, the final products are always my favorite part of the school year. Students choose topics that are close to their hearts, and through the process of reflecting, researching, and presenting, the work transforms into something truly personal and powerful. This year, many themes overlapped in striking ways. Several students explored identity, assimilation, and belonging, while others reflected on the impact of parental relationships, love, and loss. Some examined mental health, independence, and resilience, often drawing from their own lived experiences, while others connected their passions, such as medicine and community care, to broader global issues. Across all presentations, what stood out most was the depth of vulnerability, self-awareness, and maturity our students demonstrated. This project allows us to see them more fully, not just as students, but as thoughtful, reflective young adults. As the only two Spanish teachers, Ms. Soto and I have the privilege of witnessing their growth over time, and it is truly remarkable to watch them come into themselves. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, courage, and the authenticity they brought to their presentations.
Pablo Rodriguez, Class of 2026
What did you need to do in order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy?
In order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy you must select themes and sub-themes that are given to you by Ms. Soto in the Google classroom. It can be whatever you decide, but it’s very important that you select them carefully because that’s what you’re going to have to write and do research about. To make it easier, you can select something that you are already familiar with. After you select the themes and sub-themes, you must write six essays, three in Spanish and 3 in English so that you can actually prove that you know and understand both languages. Each essay is different, each one divided in parts, number one is based on your theme. You have to write something that is connected to that and your community. Number two is the research. You have to research the sub-theme or something related to that and figure out the effects that it has around the world. The final part is number three. You have to combine part one and part two your writing piece and your research. You can write about how they are both similar and use details to describe how they both affect the world. After all that writing you need to place part three in a Google slide with images and then present in Spanish and English to show that you understood the information and that you can speak both in Spanish and english.
What support did your teachers provide along the way to your achievement?
There was always support from Ms.Soto. She would stay Wednesdays for any support that was necessary. Ms. Soto would give amazing feedback and constructive criticism that would guarantee success in the Seal of Biliteracy. Apart from that, all resources were provided in the Google classroom.
What was your motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy?
What motivated me to work for the Seal of Biliteracy was to actually show that I can speak and understand two languages well. This made me feel so proud of my hard work and what really motivated me was this end result of feeling proud of myself. It can also help with college and finding a job because schools and jobs like students who know more than one language that also motivated me.
Why should students go for the Seal of Biliteracy?
Students should go for the Seal of Biliteracy because not only can you show what you know in one language but in two and that is really impressive and a valuable skill. It can help you stand out from other students when you apply to college or for a job. This opportunity can open doors to travel, study abroad, and more career choices. Students may also feel proud of their hard work and what they can and have achieved. This can also be an opportunity to learn new things in the research portion of the Seal of Biliteracy. This is just a simple way to improve your language skills and prove that you actually have them with an official award. It gives students more opportunities and confidence for the future.
Martin Hernandez, Class of 2026
What did you need to do in order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy?
In order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy, I was required to complete several tasks. For instance, before I was considered suitable to work on the seal assignments, I was required to earn an 80+ on both the English and Spanish regents and pass the AP Spanish test with a 4 or 5. After meeting those requirements, I was assigned eight assignments in total (four in English and four in Spanish) consisting of two personal essays, two bibliographies’, two research essays, and two oral presentations. At first glance this might seem like an easy task; however as a senior I had to work heavily on my time management in order to finish the work alongside my normal school classes and college applications, all while ensuring that my seal work was done on time and executed at the best of my capability. In short, I had to be somewhat disciplined regarding the completion of these assignments, and I utilized the helpful feedback of my advisors ( Ms. Olivares and Ms. Soto) in order to achieve my seal.
What support did your teachers provide along the way to your achievement?
Along the way, my teachers provided a lot of support to help me achieve this goal. My advisors, Ms. Olivares and Ms. Soto, constantly motivated my fellow seal peers and me to keep pushing through the process, as well as giving us valuable feedback to create the best work possible, which ultimately was sent to the city for verification. Additionally, my past and present English teachers: Mr. Koestner, Ms. Silverstein, and Mr. Doan also played a crucial role, thanks to their teaching methods, which allowed me to develop writing skills that were essential throughout the entire process.
What was your motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy?
Growing up in a Spanish speaking household deeply motivated me to pursue the Seal of Biliteracy, due to the fact that I felt that the Seal of Biliteracy in some way recognizes the efforts both of my parents made in order for me to learn two languages fluently. Additionally I always felt that knowing more than one language is a valuable asset that opens doors to diverse opportunities which strengthen my decision even more in working for the Seal of Biliteracy.
Why should students go for the Seal of Biliteracy?
I believe that the students should go for the Seal of Biliteracy because it is an opportunity they have to show everyone that they are fluent in two languages, not only in High School but in the future where there opportunities will be enhanced due to employers seeing that they have an attribute many people might not. To conclude the Seal of Biliteracy is a challenge however it is highly worth it and it is something that many kids raised in Spanish speaking households should aim to achieve.
Alison Moposita, Class of 2026
What did you need to do in order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy?
To achieve the Seal of Biliteracy, I had to first take the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam and pass with a score of 4 or 5. From there, I was required to complete 6 essays, 3 in English and 3 in Spanish. All essay topics were connected and the same for both languages, just different themes. The first essays were based on a personal essay; the second ones were annotated bibliographies; and the last ones were researched essays. When I first started writing my personal essays, I had to choose themes and sub-theme’s I wanted and could write about. Then, for my research essays I had to look for 3-5 articles that were in the same language I was writing and summarize each one. For the last essays, I needed to combine them and bring them all together, connecting my personal essay with the research I did. Each essay was worth 8 points, and the passing grade started at 6. After finishing all my essays and having them graded by my advisor, Mr. Familia, I was ready to present. On presentation day, every student had the option to start with the language they preferred, so I started with English and then Spanish. I mainly spoke about my personal essays and the articles I found. What I did was similar to having a conversation with my proctors, Ms. Soto and Ms. Olivares, where I answered any questions they had in the same way they answered any questions I asked. Once I was done presenting all my work and ideas, I was officially done with the Seal of Biliteracy certification process.
What support did your teachers provide along the way to your achievement?
Along the way, my teacher, Ms. Soto, was always supportive, reminding me and the rest of the students to complete our essays as fast as we could and not fall behind. Ms. Soto and Ms. Olivares would also reach out to our parents if they saw no progress and would make us have meetings during the year to keep track of our progress. Since the beginning of the year, Ms. Soto has had a calendar posted in the Google Classroom Seal of Biliteracy class for any help or concerns we had. But, whenever I had questions and it wasn’t during her availability, she would always be there at any time and welcome me into her classroom. In relation to my advisor, whenever I wanted one of my essays to be revised, I would ask him if he could look over them, and he would never deny doing so. He and Ms. Soto would also let me know if I had to correct or had something missing in my essays so I could edit them. Until the last day, my teachers reassured me and encouraged me to stay positive and calm because they believed in me achieving the Seal of Biliteracy.
What was your motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy?
My motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy was to prove that I am bilingual and use it for better job opportunities. My family speaks only Spanish at home, and my mom always encouraged me to continue speaking to her in it and others so I wouldn’t forget it. She often told me how beneficial it is to know how to speak more than one language and the Seal of Biliteracy is something by which she meant this. I have always been comfortable speaking with people who do not speak English, whether I am helping them understand or just having a normal interaction, and the seal will continue allowing me to do that but just in a formal way to help show that I have those skills.
Why should students go for the Seal of Biliteracy?
Students should go for the Seal of Biliteracy to get recognized for the fact that they can understand more than one language and culture. It’s great for career and job opportunities as it shows proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing skills. The ability to just achieve the Seal of Biliteracy reveals a lot of academic discipline and dedication on one’s part.
Melina Gomez, Class of 2026
What did you need to do in order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy?
In order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy, I first needed to get a 4 or 5 on the AP Spanish test. I then needed to complete six total assignments, three of them in English and the other three in Spanish. The assignments were a personal essay, an annotated bibliography, and a researched essay in both languages. The final step to achieve it was to present the work I did speaking in Spanish and English.
What support did your teachers provide along the way to your achievement?
Although I did not have a class with my Spanish teacher while completing my seal during senior year, I was provided with a lot of support. All of the people completing the seal were in a Google classroom that was constantly updated with information. The assignments were organized really well, and there were other resources that simply explained anything we may be confused about including how the assignments needed to be structured and how our work would be graded. Ms. Soto always made sure we knew her office hours so we could go to her whenever we needed help. She also was very frequently calling us to her classroom and having short meetings with us to make sure we understood what work needed to be done and when. All of these ultimately led me to my achievement.
What was your motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy?
My motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy was my family. Growing up in a family where everyone is constantly switching between Spanish and English is the norm in my life, but I didn’t think anything significant could come out of that. When the opportunity for the Seal came to me, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do it. But when my mom found out she pushed me to. She didn’t give me the option of not doing it, and now I can say I’m so glad she did that. I wanted to make my family and myself proud that I accomplished this.
Why should students go for the Seal of Biliteracy?
Students should go for the Seal of Biliteracy because it recognizes your proficiency in another language, and it’s something very powerful that goes on resumes and college applications. Getting the seal can open up so many career opportunities and validate the skill and hard work that was put into it.
Jonathan Mendez Diaz, Class of 2026
What did you need to do in order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy?
To complete the Seal of Biliteracy, we needed to successfully write 6 essays and a presentation that is broken apart into 4 separate parts. Which goes in the order of personal essay, Research, Research essay, and the oral presentation, which is completed in both English and Spanish. But in order to do all these essays, you first need to choose a theme as well as a sub-theme that will guide the rest of your essays. They must have different themes and sub-themes for English and Spanish. We have from September of senior year to around the end of March to complete all these essays. In order to be eligible to do the oral presentation section of the Seal of Biliteracy, you need to at least get a 6 out of 8 on each essay. Lastly, you present the research that you found about the theme and sub-theme to our teachers, Ms. Soto and Ms. Olivares. After completing this, you will find out if you passed.
What support did your teachers provide along the way to your achievement?
My teachers provided a lot of support along the way for me to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy by giving me feedback once I was done with my essays, which I could use to revise the essays if I didn’t get at least a 6 out of 8. Or even if I just wasn’t happy with the grade that I had received. They also helped me when I didn’t understand what to do in each part of the Seal. Ms. Soto had a lot of resources posted on the Google Classroom page to always reference back to when she wasn’t available. She would email us, along with our parents, if she didn’t see any progress on Google Classroom because she believed that we had the chance of achieving it and didn’t want us to just give up. Ms Soto., as well as my advisor, would give me helpful feedback if I was missing anything or generally needed to fix something. She would also have meetings with us just to check where we were with the process of completing the Seal because she knew that with all the other classes, there were times that we didn’t have time to check her emails. So, the in-person updates to ask questions or just check in were very helpful.
What was your motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy?
My motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy was to obtain another form of certification to prove my bilingualism. I know that when it comes to work, if you have the Seal of Biliteracy, it also helps you with more opportunities to get paid good money. Apart from this, I wanted to push my limits to get the most benefits I can out of high school that I can later use in my life, whether it’s for my career or to open more doors for myself. Another big reason that I wanted to get this was that I want my parents to be proud. When my mom found out that I was taking AP Spanish, the next step, if I passed the test, was the Seal. She was very excited and proud of me. I was determined to continue making my parents proud so I knew that achieving this would bring a big smile to their face.
Why should students go for the Seal of Biliteracy?
Students should go for the Seal of Biliteracy to get more opportunities that can lead to successful futures. The Seal of Biliteracy proves that a student can read, write, speak, and understand two languages at a high level. This is an important achievement that colleges and employers respect. Colleges and employers often look for people with bilingual skills. The Seal helps students stand out because bilingual workers are in demand in many careers, such as healthcare, business, education, law, and even regular jobs like those in fast food chains. Due to the fact that we live in New York, it’s such a diverse place, so the more ways that you can communicate with others makes it a lot better. Ultimately, it can open more doors for you, and if you are already a Spanish speaker, completing the Seal of Biliteracy will just benefit you in numerous ways that you wouldn’t imagine.
Victoria Dominguez, Class of 2026
What did you need to do in order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy?
In order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy, many other students and I had to choose 2 themes from a list set by the state. These themes would continue to be our selection throughout the entirety of the 3 essays we had to complete for each sub-theme. The theme had to be in reference to something meaningful and personal from our life or a passion that we feel deeply connected to. After we had correlated an experience with a sub-theme that we were confident in being able to talk about, we were able to begin our first essay where we mush together our experience and selected theme, stating how it had connected or impacted our lives. After completing, we revised it as much as possible to move onto the next step with the help of our advisors. A group of 4-5 students had the same advisor. My advisor, Ms. Olivares, was able to assist and help me check for common errors that would happen in any writing very easily, such as grammar, spelling, flow of a sentence, etc. After we completed the personal essay with at least a score of 6/8, we transitioned to the next step of the bibliographies. In this stage, we had to find articles in the language of the section (English or Spanish) and create summaries of what was being talked about and how it connects to our personal essays. Again, after revision we were able to continue to the next step. In this final stage, we were instructed to incorporate quotes/evidence from the articles we chose from the previous stage and connect it into our personal essay, creating a researched essay. After all our essays were completed to our best ability. We had to present our stories and explain any missing pieces the advisors may have had questions about or were curious to know deeper of. I wouldn’t consider the presentation formal, but rather a conversation about the “why’s” of our choices and how these experiences impacted our way of seeing the world with the help of the articles.
What support did your teachers provide along the way to your achievement?
Ms. Soto and my advisor, Ms. Olivares, provided a lot of support throughout me writing my essays. Although I did start a bit later, I was given the resources, like time afterschool or one-on-one meetings, to ask any questions or confirm any misunderstanding about the ending goal of what my writing should be about. We were also able to email them and receive almost immediate responses with tips and answers regarding any confusions. We were also allowed to ask for assistance from any teacher in the school that we confided in, which was a plus for me because I’m very close to almost all my teachers. Overall, Ms. Soto, the advisors, and all the teachers in the school create such a comfortable environment that they give us the confidence in our work.
What was your motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy?
My motivation to work on the Seal of Biliteracy was for my parents. My mother is a first generation graduate of her masters and my father is an immigrant from Mexico who only has some high school education. My parents were teen parents, so the majority of their upbringing from adolescence to adults was taking care of another child while also being children themselves. Hearing the stories of how my parents lives have changed drastically compared to when they first started on bettering their lives heavily impacted me. So my why for striving for a lot of excelling achievements in my life, starting with my education, is for my family who lack the recognition as Spanish speakers in their career.
Why should students go for the Seal of Biliteracy?
Students should go for the Seal of Biliteracy not only to enhance their “stats” as a bilingual person, but also to separate themselves from others. It’s a very big accomplishment to be considered bilingual, especially in today’s society where multiculturalism is sort of downplayed. But besides that, the Seal of Biliteracy acts as proof that you are a verified speaker of a different language and paints your picture as an advanced skilled persona when looking into colleges, trades, or even jobs in the future. I’ve seen that a lot of the underclassman don’t see the importance of school or just education in general, but this opportunity in our school is a once in a lifetime chance to put the spotlight on minorities and their heritage or just build your character for those who don’t know you.
Ariana Mora, Class of 2026
What did you need to do in order to achieve the Seal of Biliteracy?
In order to achieve the seal of Biliteracy I had to take my AP Spanish language and culture exam, passing it with a score of 4 or 5 to be able to start my Seal. I was required to complete 6 essays: 3 in Spanish and 3 in English. I had to choose a theme and sub theme for both languages from the list Ms. Soto gave us. The first essays for both languages were personal, something we are strongly connected to or strongly opinionated on. The second essays were annotated bibliographies, and the third essays were our researched essays. After submitting my assignments and meeting the requirements of having a 6+ score on them, I submitted in all my work to then finally present all my work to Ms. Soto and Ms. Olivares. We had the option of starting with whatever language we were most comfortable with, I started with Spanish and summarized all three of my essays, same with the English part of my presentation. Then just had to wait to find out if I passed.
What support did your teachers provide along the way to your achievement?
Throughout my process on the Seal, Ms. Soto was always checking up on me and the others, asking us how much we had done or if we had any questions to go to her. Both she and Ms. Olivares would reach out to our parents if we weren’t up to date with our work. For our best interest of course! Throughout the year there would be mandatory meetings with them to sort out any confusion or concerns. Our assigned advisor was also on track with us, grading our work , and giving us feedback too. The support I received from them all is well appreciated.
What was your motivation to work for the Seal of Biliteracy?
My motivation to do the Seal of Biliteracy were partially my parents and my pride in knowing more than one language. I also wanted to go along with this process because it’s also a good look for careers and job opportunities while it also shows proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Why should students go for the Seal of Biliteracy?
Students should go for the Seal of Biliteracy to get recognized for the fact that they can understand and speak more than one language and culture. It’s a good look for career and job opportunities as it shows proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing skills. The ability to just achieve the Seal of Biliteracy reveals a lot about someone’s academic discipline and dedication.