EIU Office of the Registrar

BILITERACY

EIU Credit Policy for the Seal of Biliteracy and Commendation toward Biliteracy

(Applies to students starting at EIU in Fall 2025)

High school students who have earned recognition through the State Seal of Biliteracy or the Commendation toward Biliteracy are eligible for college credit at Eastern Illinois University. EIU recognizes the State Seal of Biliteracy and the Commendation toward Biliteracy regardless of the state in which it was earned.

• State Seal of Biliteracy: 12 credits (lower division)

OR

• Commendation toward Biliteracy: 8 credits (lower division)

Credit for the Seal or Commendation in Multiple Languages

If a student has earned the Seal of Biliteracy or the Commendation in more than one world language (for example, Spanish and French, German and Ukrainian, etc.), they will receive separate credit for each language.

There is no limit on the number of languages for which a student can receive Seal or Commendation credit—as long as each recognition is officially documented.

Credit Request Process

To receive credit, students must submit a request within three academic years after graduating from high school. Requests may be initiated in one of the following ways: 

• In person at the Office of the Registrar, 1220 Old Main
• By email from the student’s official EIU email address to records@eiu.edu

Must include the student’s E-number.

Requests must be accompanied by official documentation verifying the Seal or Commendation:

• A high school diploma or transcript that displays the ISBE-issued Seal or Commendation graphic, and
• Specifies the world language in which the recognition was earned

Credit Allocation

The credit will appear as 8 earned hours (Commendation toward Biliteracy) or 12 earned hours (Seal of Biliteracy) on the official Eastern Illinois University transcript (Section: Transfer Credit Accepted by Institution). Similar to credit from Advanced Placement (AP) exams, the credit will not be included in the student’s GPA calculation since there is no letter grade associated with the Seal or Commendation.

Credits will be applied under the following subject/course prefix, depending on the language:

• WLS—Spanish
• WLF—French
• WLG—German
• WLX—All other world languages not currently offered at EIU.

Placement for Continued Language Study

Students who have received the Seal or Commendation and wish to continue their language at EIU are encouraged to reach out for placement guidance. Our faculty are happy to help you determine the best course to take next.

Dr. Christiane Eydt-Beebe, Chair
Department of World Languages & Cultures
ckeydt@eiu.edu

Advanced Placement (AP) Scores and the Seal or Commendation: Credit Policy

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) permits high schools offering the Seal of Biliteracy or the Commendation toward Biliteracy to use Advanced Placement (AP) world language exam scores as a measure of proficiency.

ISBE Language Proficiency Assesment List (pdf)

• A score of 3 on an AP world language exam qualifies a student for the Commendation.
• A score of 4 or 5 qualifies a student for the Seal of Biliteracy

How EIU Awards Credit

If a student submits both an AP score and official documentation of the Seal or Commendation, EIU’s existing AP credit policy applies, with no duplication of credit.

However, additional credits (lower division) will be awarded and posted on the student’s EIU transcript, up to the maximum number of credits allowed for the Seal or Commendation:

Credit Breakdown

• AP score of 3
  • Credit for 2201G (4 credits)
  • Plus 4 additional lower-division credits
  • Total: 8 credits.
• AP score of 4
  • Credit for 2201G (4 credits) and 2202G (4 credits)
  • Plus 4 additional lower-division credits
  • Total: 12 credits.
• AP score of 5
  • Credit for 2201G (4 credits), 2202G (4 credits), and one upper-division elective (3 credits)
  • Plus 1 additional lower-division credit
  • Total: 12 credits.

Note: Courses 2201G and 2202G count toward the General Education Humanities requirement at EIU.

AAPPL, STAMP, and Other Seal Assessments: Credit Policy &  Placement

Students who earned the Seal or Commendation through ISBE-approved assessments (such as AAPPL or STAMP) are eligible to receive:

• 12 credits for the Seal of Biliteracy

OR

• 8 credits for the Commendation

See the EIU Credit Policy at the top of this page.

Universities do not receive individual scores from these assessments. This allows students who are interested in continuing their language study at EIU to choose the best level for them. In most cases, intermediate-level language courses are a great starting point—and they also fulfill General Education Humanities requirements. World Language faculty are available to help students choose the right course.

Credit Policy When the Seal (or Commendation) Was Earned via STAMP, AAPPL, etc.—and an AP Score Is Also Submitted

If a student has received the Seal or Commendation in a language through ISBE approved-assessments other than AP (such as STAMP or AAPPL) and also submits an AP score in the same language, credit will be awarded as follows:

• The student will receive AP course credit based on EIU’s AP credit policy.
• The student will also receive additional lower-division credit from the Seal or Commendation, for a combined maximum of 12 credit hours for the Seal and 8 credit hours for the Commendation.

Example:

A student earns the Seal for Spanish through the AAPPL test and submits an AP score of 3 in Spanish. The student receives:

• 4 credits for WLS 2201G (from AP)
• 8 additional lower-division credits (from the Seal)

Total: 12 credits.

Dual Credit and the Seal or Commendation: Credit Policy

If a student has earned college credit through Dual Credit world language courses and submits official documentation of having received the Seal or Commendation for that language, they will not receive duplicate credit.  However, they can still receive additional credits (lower division) up to the maximum number of credits allowed for the Seal or Commendation. These additional credits will be posted on the student’s EIU transcript.

Advanced Competency Credit

Students who studied a world language in high school for two or more years but did not receive the Seal or Commendation, are eligible to receive up to 6 free Advanced Competency Credits. Learn more about Advanced Competency Credit here.

Important Distinction: Meeting the EIU Graduation Requirement vs. Earning College Credit

• Meeting the graduation requirement through high school study:
  • Requires two years of the same language with an average grade of C or higher.
  • Is verified by the Registrar who reviews the high school transcript.
  • Does not award or post actual college credit to your transcript.
  • Does not count toward the 120 credit hours needed for graduation.
    
    
• Receiving the Seal of Biliteracy, Commendation, or Advanced Competency Credit:
  • Does award college credit.
  • Credit is posted to your academic record.
  • Counts toward the 120 credit hours required for graduation.

Not Yet Met the Graduation Requirement? 

Complete two semesters of a world language (1101 and 1102). If you successfully completed one year of the language in high school with a satisfactory grade, you may be able to start with 1102. Speak with your advisor and/or world language faculty.

For further information on the State Seal of Biliteracy and Commendation toward Biliteracy: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/seal-of-biliteracy-faq.pdf

• What is the State Seal of Biliteracy?
  The State Seal of Biliteracy is a recognition given by a district/school to graduating high school students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in another language.
• What is the State Commendation toward Biliteracy?
  The State Commendation toward Biliteracy is a recognition given by a district/school to graduating high school students who have demonstrated significant progress toward achieving a high level of proficiency in English and in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in another language. …
• How are the Seal of Biliteracy and the Commendation toward Biliteracy included on the student’s diploma and transcript?
  The diploma must contain the Seal or Commendation graphic that ISBE provides. The target language must also be indicated below the graphic image. The transcript must contain the written statement that ISBE provides to the district. …

Sources:

• https://www.isbe.net/sealofbiliteracy
• https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=010500050K2-3.159
• https://ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/023/023006800000200R.html