The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced that 6,217 high school students in the Class of 2019 have earned the State Seal of Biliteracy, which means they demonstrated a high level of proficiency in both English and another language, and 2,876 students have earned the State Commendation Toward Biliteracy, which indicates that they made significant progress toward achieving biliteracy. 461 more students earned the Seal this year compared to last year. Participation in the program has continued to grow year-over-year as the demand for bilingual employees has increased across the country. Demand for bilingual workers in the United States more than doubled from 2012 to 2017, according to the bipartisan research and advocacy organization New American Economy. Illinois became the fourth state in the country to adopt the Seal of Biliteracy in the 2014-15 school year. Any public-school district may opt into the program by notifying ISBE no later than 45 calendar days prior to the issuance of any Seals or Commendations. Nonpublic schools also may participate beginning Jan. 1, as the result of a new state law expanding the program. Nearly 30,000 Illinois students have earned a Seal or Commendation since the program started. Learn more about Illinois’ State Seal of Biliteracy at www.isbe.net/sealofbiliteracy.