The Iowa Seal of Biliteracy @DMPS
April 25, 2022 was the first Seal of Biliteracy Awards Night for DMPS. Reception treats from Raquel's Pasteleria on 14th and Grand Ave Lola's Fine Kitchen in Ankeny were a hit. Drake University, Central College, DMACC, Buena Vista University, and Grand View University all talked with students and celebrated their awards. See pictures below and thank you to all who attended.
Step One: Sign upIf you can read, write, listen, and speak both English AND at least one more language, complete a "Request to test" form. Please, note that Seniors are given priority to assess.
*NOTE* All DMPS World Language courses will take a qualifying test during the 2023 year. Only register for a test if you are not in a WL class or you want to test in an additional language. Requests open September 1st are due by March 1st each school year |
Step Two: Take the testSign-up and take a qualifying test to show your abilities in the additional language(s). A qualifying test is required to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.
Students must use their DMPS student email to sign-up. Testing date at DMPS is TBD, Fall 2022. |
Step Three: GraduateYou can qualify for the Seal any time in high school, 9-12, in many languages!
You receive the Seal of Biliteracy at graduation. Use it to apply for scholarships, higher starting pay at jobs, college entrance requirements, and more. |
Sign up to take the STAMP test Fall, 2022 in:Arabic
French German Hebrew Hindi Italian Japanese Korean Mandarin (Simplified & Traditional) Polish Portuguese (Brazilian) Russian Spanish English* only if needing a qualifying score |
If your language is not listed on the left:You need a portfolio option. Use the button below to request a portfolio. Requests open September 1, 2022 and close March 1, 2023
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Seal of Biliteracy @DMPS Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Iowa Seal of Biliteracy? It is a state-recognized honor for graduating students to show linguistic competence in English and an additional language. Students qualify during grades 9-12 and become recipients at their graduation dates. Students can qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy in multiple languages, including ASL.
How to qualify @DMPS: Students have to take a State approved proficiency test in the non-English language(s) and earn a passing score in all skills- reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This 2022 school year, all DMPS World Language courses will take a qualifying test during class time.
If a student wants to earn the Seal and is not in a World Language course or wants to test in an additional language, the student will need to complete a "Request to Test" and attend a testing session outside of school hours. (Example: A student taking Italian at Central Academy will take the Italian test during class. This student also is proficient in French as it is her home language, this student will complete a "Request to Test" form below to establish next steps to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy in French.)
If a student wants to test in a language without an exiting qualifying test, the student will complete a portfolio option that is scored by a panel of experts in the language. This will be arranged and coordinated by the World Language Curriculum & Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator. Completion of the portfolio on time is the responsibility of the student.
See the Iowa Department of Education for more details.
How to qualify @DMPS: Students have to take a State approved proficiency test in the non-English language(s) and earn a passing score in all skills- reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This 2022 school year, all DMPS World Language courses will take a qualifying test during class time.
If a student wants to earn the Seal and is not in a World Language course or wants to test in an additional language, the student will need to complete a "Request to Test" and attend a testing session outside of school hours. (Example: A student taking Italian at Central Academy will take the Italian test during class. This student also is proficient in French as it is her home language, this student will complete a "Request to Test" form below to establish next steps to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy in French.)
If a student wants to test in a language without an exiting qualifying test, the student will complete a portfolio option that is scored by a panel of experts in the language. This will be arranged and coordinated by the World Language Curriculum & Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator. Completion of the portfolio on time is the responsibility of the student.
See the Iowa Department of Education for more details.
Testing for the Seal of Biliteracy
STAMP Exam Any student can sign up to take the STAMP Exam. This is an adaptive assessment, which means the computer adapts questions to find the true limits of a student's language proficiency. Reading and Listening scores are available immediately with Writing and Speaking being scored within a week. Students can retest in one area if needed. For more information, click here. Available languages: Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional), Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, and Spanish. *DMPS World Language courses will be taking this test during class in 2022. There is no need to test again in the same language.
AP Language and Culture Exam Any student can sign up to take the AP Language and Culture Exam, they do not have to be enrolled in the AP course offered at DMPS. Earning a 3 or higher on this exam qualifies students for the Seal of Biliteracy and grants college credits at colleges and universities across the nation, some internationally. Available languages: Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese. The cost of this exam is approximately $90. Some students may qualify for a reduced exam fee.
DMPS testing for the AP Language Exams is set for May 2022.
Additional testing options
Additional testing options are available to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy. DMPS is not hosting testing dates for these tests. Students who choose to seek-out any of the State of Iowa approved testing methods in the guidance document may submit official scores records to the DMPS Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator before the application deadline during the student's year of graduation.
APPL Exam Any student can sign up to take the APPL Exam. This is a performance-based assessment of standards-based language learning across the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. Our DMPS World Language courses use this same framework to guide and assess instruction. This test is nationally recognized and students earning an Intermediate-2 (I-2) or higher in all areas of the exam qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy. There is no guarantee of college credit with this exam. For more information, click here. Available languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai. Exam fees are around $25. Find a testing location on the exam webpage.
APPL Exam Any student can sign up to take the APPL Exam. This is a performance-based assessment of standards-based language learning across the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. Our DMPS World Language courses use this same framework to guide and assess instruction. This test is nationally recognized and students earning an Intermediate-2 (I-2) or higher in all areas of the exam qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy. There is no guarantee of college credit with this exam. For more information, click here. Available languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai. Exam fees are around $25. Find a testing location on the exam webpage.
