Section 51461.

(a) The State Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school pupil in one or more languages, in addition to English, and certifies that the graduate meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Completion of all English language arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above in those classes.

(2) Passing the California Standards Test in English language arts administered in grade 11 at the proficient level or above.

(3) Proficiency in one or more languages other than English, demonstrated through one of the following methods:

(A) Passing a foreign language Advanced Placement examination with a score of 3 or higher or an International Baccalaureate examination with a score of 4 or higher.

(B) Successful completion of a four-year high school course of study in a foreign language, and attaining an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above in that course of study.

(C) If no Advanced Placement examination or off-the-shelf language test exists and the school district can certify to the Superintendent that the test meets the rigor of a four-year high school course of study in that foreign language, passing a school district language examination that, at a minimum, assesses speaking, reading, and writing in a language other than English at the proficient level or higher. If a school district offers a language examination in a language in which an Advanced Placement examination or off-the-shelf language test exists, the school district language examination shall be approved by the Superintendent for the purpose of determining proficiency in a language other than English.

(D) Passing the SAT II foreign language examination with a score of 600 or higher.

(b) If the primary language of a pupil in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, is other than English, he or she shall do both of the following in order to qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy:

(1) Attain the early advanced proficiency level on the English language development test. For purposes of this paragraph, a participating school district may administer the English language development test an additional time as necessary.

(2) Meet the requirements of subdivision (a).

(c) For languages in which an Advanced Placement test is not available, the Superintendent may provide a listing of equivalent summative tests that school districts may use in place of an Advanced Placement test for purposes of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a). A school district may provide the Superintendent with a list of equivalent summative tests that the district uses in place of an Advanced Placement test for purposes of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a). The Superintendent may use lists received from school districts in developing his or her list of equivalent summative tests.

(d) For purposes of this article, "foreign language" means a language other than English, and includes American Sign Language.

(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 618, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2012.)