Bilingual Seals and Proficiency Certificate

About Bilingual Seals and Proficiency Certificate

The Minnesota World Language Proficiency Certificate and Bilingual and Multilingual Seals were created as an official recognition by the state of Minnesota for proficiency in a language in addition to English. The certificate can be awarded as soon as a student demonstrates Intermediate-Low proficiency; however, the seals are only awarded upon high school graduation. Minnetonka Public Schools carefully tracks student proficiency test results to ensure students receive the appropriate designation.

If you are awarded a language proficiency seal, you may be able to earn college credit at the universities listed
below. Please stop by the College & Career Center if you will be attending one of these schools and we will
send them a transcript that includes your seal.

  • Bemidji State University
  • Metropolitan State University
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato
  • Minnesota State University-Moorhead
  • Saint Cloud State University
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
  • Winona State University

Note: The University of Minnesota is not a MnSCU school. The College of Liberal Arts at the University of
Minnesota has its own system for awarding credit for students with advanced language skills.

Why the Seals are Awarded

  • The Bilingual Seal is awarded for proficiency in another language in addition to English.
  • The Multilingual Seal is awarded for proficiency in two or more languages in addition to English.

Recognition and Certificate or Seal Levels

The level of each seal is defined according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines.

Level of Achievement

ACTFL Proficiency
Levels (STAMP exam)

AP Language Exams

 IB Diploma

MN World Language Proficiency Certificate

Intermediate Low
(STAMP score 4)

Intermediate Low
(AP score 3)

Intermediate Low
(Language A courses: IB score 2 on SL exam; IB score 2 on HL exam)

(Language B courses: IB score 3 on SL exam; IB score 2 on HL exam)

Minnesota Bilingual Gold Seal

Intermediate High
(STAMP score 6)

Intermediate High
(AP score 4)

Intermediate High
(Language A courses: IB score 3 on SL exam; IB score 3 on HL exam)

(Language B courses: IB score 4 on SL exam; IB score 3 or 4 on HL exam)

Minnesota Bilingual Platinum Seal

Advanced Low
(STAMP score 7)

Advanced Low
(AP score 5)

Advanced Low
(Language A courses: IB score 4 or above on SL exam; IB score 4 or above on HL exam)

(Language B courses: IB score 5 or above on SL exam; IB score 5 or above on HL exam)

When Awards are Given

Seals are awarded upon high school graduation using eligible scores from grades 9-12. At the District’s expense, students may continue to take the STAMP Test each year until they receive the seal level that meets their expectations.  For the STAMP Test, students must earn the qualifying score listed in the table below on EACH of the four sections of the exam (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking).

Grade Level

ACTFL Proficiency Levels (STAMP exam)

AP Language Exams

 IB Diploma

Grade 9

N/A

Intermediate Mid
(AP score 3 – World Language Proficiency Certificate)

Intermediate High
(AP score 4 – Gold Bilingual Seal)

Advanced Low
(AP score 5 – Platinum Bilingual Seal)  

N/A

Grade 10

Intermediate Low
(STAMP score 4 – World Language Proficiency Certificate)

Intermediate High
(STAMP score 6 – Gold Bilingual Seal)

Advanced Low
(STAMP score 7 – Platinum Bilingual Seal)

Intermediate Mid
(AP score 3 – World Language Proficiency Certificate)

Intermediate High
(AP score 4 – Gold Bilingual Seal)

Advanced Low
(AP score 5 – Platinum Bilingual Seal)

N/A

Grade 11

Intermediate Low
(STAMP score 4 – World Language Proficiency Certificate)

Intermediate High
(STAMP score 6 – Gold Bilingual Seal)

Advanced Low
(STAMP score 7 – Platinum Bilingual Seal)

Intermediate Mid
(AP score 3 – World Language Proficiency Certificate)

Intermediate High
(AP score 4 – Gold Bilingual Seal)

Advanced Low
(AP score 5 – Platinum Bilingual Seal)

Intermediate Low
(IB score 2 on Language A SL exam, score 2 on Language A HL exam, score 3 on Language B SL exam or score 2 on Language B HL exam – World Language Proficiency Certificate)

Intermediate High
(IB score 3 on Language A SL exam, score 3 on Language A HL exam, score 4 on Language B SL exam or score 3 or 4 on Language B HL exam – Gold Bilingual Seal)

Advanced Low
(IB score of 4 or above on Language A SL exam, score of 4 or above on Language A HL exam, score 5 or above on Language B SL exam, score 5 or above on Language B HL exam – Platinum Bilingual Seal)

Grade 12

Intermediate Low
(STAMP score 4 – World Language Proficiency Certificate)

Intermediate High
(STAMP score 6 – Gold Bilingual Seal)

Advanced Low
(STAMP score 7 – Platinum Bilingual Seal)

Intermediate Mid
(AP score 3 – World Language Proficiency Certificate)

Intermediate High
(AP score 4 – Gold Bilingual Seal)

Advanced Low
(AP score 5 – Platinum Bilingual Seal)

Intermediate Low
(IB score 2 on Language A SL exam, score 2 on Language A HL exam, score 3 on Language B SL exam or score 2 on Language B HL exam – World Language Proficiency Certificate)

Intermediate High
(IB score 3 on Language A SL exam, score 3 on Language A HL exam, score 4 on Language B SL exam or score 3 or 4 on Language B HL exam – Gold Bilingual Seal)

Advanced Low
(IB score of 4 or above on Language A SL exam, score of 4 or above on Language A HL exam, score 5 or above on Language B SL exam, score 5 or above on Language B HL exam – Platinum Bilingual Seal)

How the Seals are Awarded

School districts add the appropriate seal to the transcript of high school graduates who meet the requirements AND are attending one of the MnSCU schools listed above.

Multilingual Assessment

In addition, Spanish and Chinese Immersion students at MHS who choose to take a third language may also take an assessment in that language to qualify for the State of Minnesota’s Multilingual Seal.

Additional Requirements

Students must also:

  1. Satisfactorily complete all required English language arts credits; and
  2. Demonstrate mastery of Minnesota’s English language proficiency standards.

For further information regarding college credits, please click here or you may email mde.worldlang@state.mn.us.

World Language Flags

Contact

If you have questions regarding attainment of the certificate or seal levels, you may contact your child’s teacher or Dr. Matt Rega, Director of Assessment at matt.rega@minnetonkaschools.org