IL HB0037

Expands the State Seal of Biliteracy program to include non-public high school graduates in addition to public school graduates.

Requires the State Board of Education to establish criteria for earning the seal, which may include English language arts credits, foreign language credits, and approved proficiency assessments.

Mandates that public universities accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent to 2 years of foreign language coursework for admissions purposes.

Requires public community colleges and universities to establish criteria to award foreign language course credit to students with the seal upon request, with a 3-year deadline after high school graduation.

Prohibits charging fees to pupils for the seal designation itself, though costs may be incurred for required proficiency assessments.