• Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy (PASB)

    Conestoga HS is proud to offer the PA Seal of Biliteracy to students, beginning with the Class of 2026!

    The Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy (PASB) is an award presented by a school or school entity (e.g., a school district, charter school, cyber charter school, or nonpublic school) in recognition of students who have attained intermediate-high proficiency in English and one or more additional world languages upon high school graduation.

    The Seal of Biliteracy encourages students to study and attain proficiency in English and another world language to promote civic and global engagement. It also demonstrates that biliteracy and bilingualism are academically challenging endeavors. By earning the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy, students demonstrate readiness to engage in the global community.

    The purpose of Pennsylvania’s Seal of Biliteracy is to:  

      • recognize the value of world language and dual language programs in Pennsylvania schools;  
      • affirm the value of cultural and linguistic diversity in our schools and communities;  
      • encourage family and community support for the development of home languages other than English, as well as the study of additional world languages and cultures;  
      • encourage all students to acquire proficiency in English and another world language;  
      • certify intermediate-high proficiency in English and another world language;  
      • provide employers with a method of identifying candidates with biliteracy skills;  
      • provide universities with a method to recognize biliterate students; and
      • promote civic and global engagement.

     

    Conestoga High School Qualifying Criteria for the PASB

    Students Qualify for the PASB

    In order to be awarded the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy (PASB), students must demonstrate proficiency in two languages in the domains of reading, writing, speaking and listening. One of the languages must be English.  

    Overall Grade Requirement

    In addition to the specific criteria outlined below, students need to earn an average of final grades equaling “B,” meaning 80% or higher in English (grades 9-12) and World Language (9-12) in the target language testing. Simply put, students need to achieve the required grade requirement as well as one of the English Criteria and one of the World Language Criteria listed below.

    Specific Criteria

    English Criteria

    Students must demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak and listen in English.  This can be demonstrated in the following ways:

      • A student can score Proficient or Advanced on either the Keystone Literature Exam or the PASA. 
      • A student can score a 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) Literature exam.
      • English Language Learners have reclassified by meeting the WIDA ACCESS minimum cut off score of 4.5 and the additional teacher rubric criteria by October 1st of their graduating year.   
      • English Language Learners can also score Intermediate High (I-5) or higher on Test Form B on the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL).

    Students need to meet one of the above criteria to be considered for the PASB.  If met, the student will also need to meet the World Language Criteria for their second language.

    World Language Criteria

    Students must demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak, and listen in a language other than English.  This can be demonstrated in the following ways:

      • Provide transcripts from a school in a country outside the US or in Puerto Rico showing at least three years of instruction in the student’s home language in grades 8 or beyond indicating an average of final grades equaling “B”, 80%, or higher. 
      • Score equivalency of intermediate-high or higher on one of the modern world language assessments on the list of approved world language assessments.  The STAMP (Standards-Based Measurement of Proficiency) and AAPPL (ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages) are offered at Conestoga. The ALIRA (ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment) is used for students of Latin.
      • A student can score a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) World Language and Culture Exam.
      • Score equivalency of intermediate-high or higher on a community-based world language assessment normed to the ACTFL proficiency level as approved by Conestoga High School’s Seal of Biliteracy Committee.

    Conestoga High School PASB Application (Click link to access Microsoft Form)

    • Applications will be accepted beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

     

    For more information about the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy (PASB), please contact your school counselor.  You can also reach out to the following people:

    Mr. Patrick Cupo, World Languages Department Chair, Conestoga High School

    Dr. Patrick Gately, World Languages Curriculum Supervisor, Tredyffrin/Easttown School District