The only organization dedicated solely to helping state boards advance equity and excellence in public education.

NCSBEE Voice: Adopting a Seal of Biliteracy: A State Perspective


According to sealofbiliteracy.org, all states but one have adopted a seal of biliteracy for inclusion on high school diplomas. When the Montana Board of Public Education adopted its seal in 2021, we were one of the last states to take the leap. There was much to consider: Should the Montana legislature lead the effort? Should we wait until federal funding was allocated? How can the Montana Board of Public Education ever support such a huge undertaking? Yet Montana has a large Native American and rural population of students who do not always have access to language programs. At the end of the day, the board decided that adopting the seal of biliteracy was too important to wait for all the stars to align.


Adopting a Seal of Biliteracy: A State Perspective





Featured Items

Empowering Families to Improve Youth Mental Health

State education leaders can foster children’s mental health by increasing families’ preparedness and awareness of available resources and activities.

Engaging All Students

Authors explore the reasons why students increasingly feel uninspired and disengaged at school and outline steps state leaders can take to help schools and districts increase students’ engagement and connectedness.
Image Credit: iStock i

Beyond Testing for Lead in Drinking Water: Implications for Funding

While most states encourage or require schools to test for lead in drinking water, funding to sustain remediation lags—despite significant federal grants designed to boost those efforts.

Upcoming Events

From the States