The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy at SCA

St. Catherine of Siena Academy is excited to offer the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy, an award given by the Michigan Department of Education to recognize students who achieve proficiency in English and at least one additional language by the time they graduate. This achievement highlights a student’s dedication to language study, academic excellence, and cultural awareness—skills that enrich learning and open doors to future opportunities.

Biliteracy may be earned through a language studied at school or through a heritage language spoken at home. Students who earn the Seal stand out in college admissions, strengthen their résumés for future careers, and will have this accomplishment noted on their official SCA transcript (and on their diploma if final assessment results are available by graduation).

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for the Seal, students must:

• Graduate from a Michigan high school
• Meet all English Language Arts requirements
• Demonstrate proficiency in another language at the Intermediate High level or equivalent using an approved state assessment

SCA’s sponsored languages—Latin and Spanish—are fully eligible for the Seal. In addition, students who speak a language other than English at home may apply to be assessed in their heritage language to determine eligibility.

How to Get Started

Seniors interested in earning the Seal of Biliteracy this year must meet with Mrs. Sitto by December 12, 2025. This deadline allows enough time to order the required assessment and schedule testing.

Mrs. Sitto will guide students through each step of the process, including confirming eligibility, registering for assessments, and completing the state application.

Students should not wait until the last minute. If you have questions or would like to begin the process, stop by the Counseling Office or email Mrs. Sitto at csitto@saintcatherineacademy.org.

We are happy to support our students as they pursue this recognition and celebrate their multilingual skills.

For more information on the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy, click here.

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