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 (8-12) in the target language testing. Simply put, students need to achieve the required grade requirement and one of the “specific criteria” already listed below.

English Criteria
Students must demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak and listen in English. This can be demonstrated in the following ways:
1. A student can score Proficient or Advanced on either the Keystone Literature assessment or the PASA.
2. 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.
3. A student can score a 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) Literature exam.
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:
1. Provide transcripts from a school in a country outside the US or 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.
2. Score equivalency of intermediate-high or higher on one of the modern world language assessments on the list of approved world language assessments.
3. Score equivalency of intermediate-high or higher on a community-based world language assessment normed to the ACTFL proficiency level as approved by the school’s or school entity’s PASB committee.