Biliteracy Award Programs

About the Pathway and Seal of Biliteracy

CCUSD proudly participates in California’s Pathway to Biliteracy and Seal of Biliteracy recognitions. Both honor students who demonstrate proficiency in English and another language, reflecting our district’s commitment to celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity.

These recognitions celebrate the language learning journey from elementary through high school:

The Pathway to Biliteracy recognizes elementary and middle school students who are developing bilingual skills and encourages them to continue growing their proficiency.
The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes high school graduates who have achieved proficiency in two or more languages, including English.

Together, these programs affirm that multilingualism is an asset, academically, culturally, and globally. By celebrating students’ language skills, we promote inclusion, identity, and pride in our diverse learning community.

To learn more, see below for details about each program:

Pathway to Biliteracy Awards (for 5th and 8th grade students)

Pathway to Biliteracy awards honor students who, by the end of 5th and/or 8th grade, have demonstrated a commitment to becoming biliterate and who have reached a certain degree of proficiency in both English and another language.

Timeline for 5th and 8th Grade Students:

Date	Responsibility	Description
December 19, 2025	Family or Student	Submit Intent to Participate Application (link)
No later than Mid January 2026	CCUSD	Ed Services will set up the Pathway to Biliteracy Google Classroom. Invitations go to student district emails, and caregivers will receive invitations at the email addresses associated with Aeries.
April 10, 2026	Student	Submit Cultural and Reading assignments in Google Classroom.
Mid April	CCUSD	Ed Services will review submissions and notify students if they have met the English (no need to turn in anything) and Second language components (those submitted).
April-May	Student	Eligible Students complete the writing prompt during the school day.
May-June	CCUSD	After the writing prompt is scored, Ed Services will notify families if their student has met all the criteria for Pathway recognition.
June 2026	CCUSD	Students who meet all criteria will be recognized with a Pathway to Biliteracy Ribbon and Certificate.

Seal of Biliteracy Award (for graduating 12th-grade students)

The Seal of Biliteracy will be awarded to 12th-grade students at graduation. This award is a seal placed on the student’s diploma and noted in the transcript. Recipients will also be awarded an honor medallion to wear during graduation ceremonies. To receive this recognition, students must meet the established criteria.

For more information about the Seal of Biliteracy, click here

If you have any questions/clarifications, please email [email protected].

Other Opportunities for Recognition

Dear Multilingual Updates Listserv Members,

Please see the information below from the Education Office of the Consulate General of Spain and the California Department of Education:

“Escribo en Español” Essay Contest
(Essay Submission deadline is February 27, 2026)

The Education Office of the Consulate General of Spain and the California Department of Education would like to invite all California students to participate in the 2025–2026 “Escribo en Español” writing contest. “Escribo en Español” encourages students in grades three through twelve to further their Spanish writing skills by providing awards for the best prose and poetry. The theme for this year’s contest is "HERENCIA HISPANA EN MI COMUNIDAD: 250 AÑOS DE AMISTAD ENTRE ESPAÑA Y EE.UU. (1776-2026)". All the necessary documents to participate can be found at the following link.