Seal of Biliteracy Numbers Soar at EPHS

This school year, 58 EPHS students across all grades earned the Seal of Biliteracy, along with 22 who earned a Commendation for their language skills! This is the highest number of EPHS students to ever receive state recognition.

The Illinois Seal of Biliteracy is an award that students receive at graduation for high-level proficiency in English and one or more additional languages. The Commendation Toward Biliteracy recognizes intermediate proficiency. Both of these certifications are noted on students’ transcripts and high school diplomas.

These achievements not only provide students with the opportunity to earn college credit at Illinois public universities, but also give them a competitive edge in the workforce—serving as official proof of language ability. The awards can help students and their families save both time and money, while also making them stronger candidates when applying for jobs.

Students received their Seal and Commendation results on April 29 during their lunch periods. The announcements were personally shared by District Language Coach Dominique Byrnes and District Director for Multilingual and Instructional Supports Natalia Gomez. Some students were so eager to learn their results that they stopped by during passing periods to find out as soon as possible!

Natalia Gomez and Dominique Byrnes present biliteracy awards to students

Testing for biliteracy is open to all grade levels, 9–12, with participation typically highest among juniors and seniors. However, interest continues to grow among underclassmen—this year even saw a sophomore, Dante Salgado-Santiago, earn the Seal. If a student tests and does not receive a Seal in an earlier year, they are able to test again in the future. Students may also choose to test in multiple languages over time, allowing them the opportunity to earn more than one Seal of Biliteracy throughout their high school career.

Student Ximlu Mainit receives a certificate for biliteracy honors. She received a Seal for Tagalog in 2025, and a Commendation for Spanish in 2026.

Byrnes and Gomez shared, “Earning the Seal of Biliteracy is a testament to a student’s persistence and academic rigor. It demands high levels of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. For our heritage speakers, it is a formal recognition of the hard work they do every day navigating two languages. For our language learners, it represents years of disciplined study within our classrooms.”

This year, 53 seniors will graduate with the Seal, while 17 will graduate with a Commendation in biliteracy. This includes students who earned it in a previous year.

“By celebrating our students who achieve the Seal of Biliteracy, District 401 is fulfilling its mission to prepare inquisitive, critical thinkers who are ready to lead,” said Byrnes and Gomez. “We are not just graduating students—we are graduating global citizens who carry their culture with pride.”

Students were tested in a variety of languages, reflecting the diversity of EPHS. Spanish had the highest number of state-recognized students, followed by Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Filipino, Greek, and Italian, among others.

Students will be honored at the district’s annual Cultural Heritage Celebration on May 21, where Seal earners will also be presented with honor cords to wear at graduation. More information about the event is available here.

As EPHS continues to support multilingual learners, this year’s Seal of Biliteracy recipients stand as an example of the academic dedication and cultural richness within the school community.