• Shawsheen Valley Technical High School

    Seal of Biliteracy Information

    February 2025

    We are pleased to announce that Shawsheen Valley Technical High School will be participating in the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy again for the 2024-2025 School Year. The Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL), placed on the diploma or transcripts of Massachusetts graduates, identifies that the graduate has a functional, professional level of proficiency in English and at least one other language. 

    The State Seal of Biliteracy aims to:

    • Encourage students to study and master languages;
    • Certify attainment of biliteracy skills;
    • Recognize the value of language diversity;
    • Provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills;
    • Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of high-level skills in languages;
    • Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society; and
    • Strengthen intergroup communication and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community.

    There are currently higher education institutions in Massachusetts that award college credit to students who receive the Seal of Biliteracy. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education continues to work with other higher education institutions to expand course exemptions and credit offerings for students who have earned the Seal. In addition, the Office of Labor and Workforce Development promotes knowledge of the Seal in the broader workforce.

    To earn the State Seal of Biliteracy, students must:

    • Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by satisfying one of the following:
      • Earn a score of 472 or higher on Grade 10 ELA MCAS*
    • Students who demonstrate mastery of English and a world language will be eligible for the State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction. To earn the State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction, students must meet the following criteria:
      • Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by earning a score of 501 or higher on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS

     Students who would like to register for the Seal of Biliteracy should complete this form  by Feb. 28th, 2025.  

    We look forward to honoring our students’ language expertise and diversity through this initiative. If you have any questions, please contact Anastasia Campbell: acampbell@shawtech.org