Oregon Sees a Surge in Biliterate Students as Language Diversity Grows in Public Schools

Oregon educators continue to increase bi-literacy at schools, where students speak a total of 379 unique languages.

Since joining the State Seal of Bi-literacy (OSSB) program in 2016, Oregon has consistently increased the number of bi-literate students among its 550,000 public school attendees.

According to the recently released Oregon Statewide Report Card, 3,713 high school students were awarded the OSSB in the 2024-25 school year.

465 Students Acknowledged for Proficiency in Two or More Languages

This is the fourth consecutive year that the number of OSSB awards has increased, with 465 scholars recognized for their bi-literacy achievements.

The State Seal of Bi-literacy recognizes high school graduates who have demonstrated proficiency in two or more languages, including English. They receive a certificate in recognition of their achievement, as well as a notation on their diploma or transcript.

Participation in the program is voluntary. The state seal is awarded by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and encourages students to value the importance of bi-literacy. Students demonstrate their proficiency with a combination of coursework and assessments.

The State Seal of Bi-literacy was first introduced to the education program in California in 2011. Since then, the number of states participating has grown steadily, and today all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia offer programs.

Illinois, New York, and Texas adopted the program in 2013, with Oregon and New Jersey following suit in 2016. Last year, South Dakota became the last state to incorporate the SSB into the school curriculum.

Although the national comprehensive data on the SSB for the 2024-25 school year has not been finalized, neighboring California has historically awarded the most bi-literacy seals every year. According to the latest information, that trend appears to be continuing. In 2022-23, California awarded 59,782 SSB certificates. This was three times higher than the second-place state of Florida, with a total of 16,039 awards.

Oregon Department of Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams says the state continues to build a system in which continuous improvement is part of the education culture.

The 2024-25 edition of the Oregon Statewide Report Card is now available on the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) website.