Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy Program Celebrates 10-Year Milestone with Record Participation

​SPRINGFIELD - ​The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released data celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the State Seal of Biliteracy, highlighting a decade of growth in multilingual education. In the 2024-25 school year, a record-breaking 17,111 graduating seniors earned the State Seal of Biliteracy or the Commendation Toward Biliteracy, demonstrating high proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English.

"A record-breaking number of seniors graduating with the State Seal of Biliteracy speaks to the investments, heritage, and growth of Illinois' multilingual education," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Now more than ever, it is imperative that we celebrate the great diversity of our state and celebrate Illinois students who have earned this prestigious credential through hard work and perseverance - paving the way for success in college, career, and life."

"The Seal of Biliteracy celebrates the rich linguistic heritage of our students and acknowledges the hard work of those who set out to learn an additional language," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. "Multilingualism is a powerful asset - one that prepares graduates to lead, collaborate, and problem-solve in an increasingly interconnected world. The program's continued expansion shows that more students than ever are seizing the opportunities that multilingualism creates."

Illinois was the third state in the nation to establish a State Seal of Biliteracy, launching the program in 2013 with the first awards presented to graduates in 2015. The program has expanded from just 503 Seals of Biliteracy awarded in its inaugural year to 11,131 Seals of Biliteracy awarded in 2025.

"I am proud to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the State Seal of Biliteracy program and celebrate the thousands of students who have earned this recognition since its inception," said Representative Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero), who sponsored the legislation establishing the Seal of Biliteracy. "This program continues to not only uplift those who have grown up in multilingual communities, but also those who have put in the effort to excel at a new language, achieving a broader skill set that will serve them well. These individuals continue to demonstrate the power and potential of a multicultural, global understanding through bilingualism, and I'm excited to see this program continue to move forward."

The State Seal of Biliteracy is a credential noted on a student's academic transcript and diploma, certifying that the graduate has attained a high level of proficiency in English and another language. The State Commendation Toward Biliteracy is awarded to students who demonstrate significant progress toward biliteracy.

Key highlights from the 2025 School Year Report include:

• Twelve percent of all Illinois high school graduates in the Class of 2025 earned at least one Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation Toward Biliteracy.
• Students earned recognition in 62 distinct languages for the Seal of Biliteracy and 31 for the Commendation Toward Biliteracy.
• While Spanish remains the most common language awarded (8,808 Seals), there was significant representation in other languages. The top non-Spanish languages for the Seal of Biliteracy included Polish (555), French (365), Mandarin (251), American Sign Language (149), and Russian (128).
• Awards were granted across 139 school districts and included 20 nonpublic schools, which reported 443 awards combined.

The data reveals an overall upward trend in awards despite a short-term disruption during the pandemic. Additionally, the program has successfully engaged a wide range of learners; nearly half (47%) of students who earned a Seal of Biliteracy were former English learners, highlighting the program's role in valuing the linguistic heritage of students who entered school learning English.

In 2019, ISBE simplified the participation process by shifting to the Student Information System (SIS) for data reporting, which has helped facilitate the program's continued expansion.

For more information about the State Seal of Biliteracy, visit ISBE's Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy webpage.​