Seal of Biliteracy (SB)

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, the State Seal of Biliteracy "recognizes public high school graduated who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English." Through HB 4330, the Illinois School Code was amended to the Seal of Biliteracy. Illinois Student Code requires that public institutions in the State of Illinois (1) for admission purposes, accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent to two years of foreign language coursework taken in high school and (2) establish criteria for awarding equivalent course credit. These requirements went into effect January 1, 2017. As of March 2019, 36 states plus the District of Columbia have a State Seal of Biliteracy. Joliet Junior College will recognize the State Seal of Biliteracy and State Commendation Toward Biliteracy regardless of the state in which it was earned.

Need Help Getting Started?

Would you like to learn more about Credit for Prior Learning? Do you think you may be able to receive college credit from nontraditional schooling, work, or other life experience, but you're not sure where to start? Complete the Credit for Prior Learning Questionnaire and a JJC staff member will reach out to you shortly: Questionnaire

Seal of Biliteracy Approval Process

1. Students must submit an official high school transcripts with stamped Seal of Biliteracy. 
2. Students must submit JJC's Transfer Credit Evaluation Request Form, found on the student portal. 
3. Once both documents are received, transcripts will be evaluated by JJC staff, and any applicable credit will be awarded to the student's record within 30 days.
4. Students can view the credit awarded on the Student Planning module after 30 days. 

Seal of Biliteracy Chart

From the Illinois Student Code: "foreign language" means any language other than English, including all modern languages, Latin, American Sign Language, Native American languages, and native language. 

Additional information about the Seal of Biliteracy can be found at The Seal of Biliteracy website. 

Students enrolled in a public community college who have received a State Seal of Biliteracy must request course credit for their seal within three academic years after graduating from high school. 

Last updated: 09/11/24