OSSE outlines DC Seal of Biliteracy credential for District students

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) published information describing the DC Seal of Biliteracy, a credential awarded to students in District of Columbia public schools and public charter schools who meet state language-proficiency standards. The announcement clarifies the program's purpose, who is eligible, and how the credential is recorded for students graduating from DC schools.

OSSE positions the Seal of Biliteracy as an official recognition of students' ability to demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language, and it provides guidance for schools on assessment, documentation and awarding the seal. The agency's materials are aimed at school leaders, counselors and language teachers responsible for identifying eligible students and completing the necessary certification steps.

The credential is tied to local student records and transcripts, according to OSSE's guidance, so that students who earn the seal have a verifiable record for colleges and employers. OSSE also outlines the role of local schools and the city agency in verifying language proficiency and entering the seal on student records.

What the Seal recognizes

The DC Seal of Biliteracy recognizes measurable language proficiency beyond ordinary classroom completion. OSSE explains that the recognition signals a student's ability to use two languages for academic and real-world purposes. The seal is intended to acknowledge skills that may support postsecondary admissions, career opportunities, and community engagement for multilingual learners.

OSSE's materials include definitional guidance and examples of accepted language assessments that schools may use to establish eligibility. The agency also provides operational guidance so that schools can align local testing and documentation with the District's requirements.

How schools implement and record the seal

OSSE's guidance lays out responsibilities for school staff to assess students and certify that proficiency standards have been met. Once awarded, the seal is recorded on student transcripts and other official records that follow a graduating student. The agency maintains oversight and offers resources for consistency across DC Public Schools and DC public charter schools.

District administrators and educators can use OSSE's resources to support multilingual students and to integrate the seal into broader college- and career-readiness planning. The agency's guidance is presented as a reference for local implementation rather than as a change to graduation requirements.

Local advocates and school leaders say a visible credential for bilingualism can help highlight multilingual students' skills. OSSE's documentation aims to make it easier for schools to apply consistent standards and to ensure that awarded seals are visible on official records.

OSSE directs schools and families to its website for the full set of procedures and to contact the agency for questions about assessments or documentation.

Look for OSSE to update its guidance or release recipient counts ahead of the next graduation cycle, which will indicate how many District students have earned the seal in recent years.