PIERRE — South Dakota students who are on track to graduate from high school are now able to earn the South Dakota Seal of Biliteracy.

This recognition, developed by the South Dakota Department of Education, is available for those students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English and another language. The seal is provided by the DOE to schools that request them for their students’ diplomas.

The program employed a “soft launch” last spring, with five districts participating. This year will be the first full year of the program. One of the school districts that participated in spring 2024 was the Sioux Falls School District.

Andy McKay, the K-12 Spanish Immersion Program specialist for the Sioux Falls School District, said the seal will distinguish students as having valuable proficiencies for schools and employers. “Fundamentally, it provides clear information to both future employers and post-secondary institutions about what students can do across two languages,” said McKay.

“The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes those students who have put in the effort to become proficient in more than one language,” said state Secretary of Education Joe Graves. “A biliterate student is one who will be an asset to any organization that operates internationally or serves people who speak languages other than English. The biliterate student is also one who has met the classical obligation of the truly educated person, one who has demonstrated true mastery of more than his or her native tongue.”

For a student to have the Seal of Biliteracy affixed to their diploma, the student must demonstrate proficiency in both English and a second language.

More information about the South Dakota Seal of Biliteracy can be found on the state Department of Education website.