Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Education

State Board of Education

Guidance Document Change: The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) evaluates student credentials on an on-going basis against prescribed criteria for graduation requirements for the Standard Diploma 8VAC20-132-51(B) and verified credit(s) (8VAC20-132-110(C). The process for reviewing and validating student credentials for the purpose of awarding verified credit is based on the following criteria: (1) the test must be standardized and graded independently of the school or school division in which the test is given; (2) the test must be knowledge based; (3) the test must be administered on a statewide, multistate, or international basis, or administered as part of another state’s accountability assessment program; and (4) to be counted in a specific academic area, the test must measure content that incorporates or exceeds the Standards of Learning content in the course for which verified credit is given. Important to this process is ensuring that the credential is relevant and recognized in the workplace. The credential recommended for addition is the CAREER CONNECTIONS, Seal of Biliteracy. The credentials that are recommended for deletion as they have been discontinued by providers include the following: AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, (i) Agricultural Biotechnology Assessment (NOCTI); (ii) Floriculture Assessment (NOCTI); (iii) Floriculture: Greenhouse Assessment (NOCTI); and (iv) Natural Resources Systems Assessment. BUSINESS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, (i) Banking and Related Services Assessment (NOCTI); (ii) IT Fundamentals Pro Examination (TestOut Corporation); (iii) Network Pro Certification Examination (TestOut Corporation); and (iv) PC Pro Certification Examination (TestOut Corporation). FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES, (i) Education and Training Assessment (NOCTI); (ii) Hospitality Management- Food and Beverage Assessment (NOCTI); (iii) Restaurant, Food and Beverage Services Assessment (NOCTI). HEALTH AND MEDICAL SCIENCES, (i) Diagnostic Services Assessment (NOCTI); (ii) Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) Examination (American Medical Certification Association (AMCA); (iii) Practical Nursing Assessment (NOCTI); (iv) Therapeutic Services Assessment (NOCTI). MARKETING, (i)Lodging Assessment (NOCTI). TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION, (i) Mechanical Drafting and Design Assessment (NOCTI). TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION, (i) Automotive Technician- Advanced Assessment (NOCTI); (ii) CAD-CAM Assessment (NOCTI); (iii) Industrial Electricity Assessment (NOCTI); (iv) Protective Services Assessment (NOCTI); (v) Construction Masonry- Block Assessment (NOCTI); (vi) Emergency and Fire Management Services Assessment (NOCTI); (vii) Emergency Medical Services Assessment (NOCTI).

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10/7/25 4:52 pm

Commenter: Stephanie Stockman, Virginia Organization of World Language Supervisors

Seal of Biliteracy as a full CTE credential and Employment Readiness indicator

In July 2025, the Virginia General Assembly enacted HB2360, officially designating the Board of Education's Seal of Biliteracy as a high-demand industry workforce credential. This legislative recognition affirms the Seal's value in preparing students for Virginia's evolving workforce and supports its inclusion in graduation requirements and school accountability metrics.

The Seal of Biliteracy certifies that a student has achieved proficiency in English and at least one other language, a skill increasingly vital across Virginia's high-demand sectors including healthcare, education, public safety, the military, business, and technology. Bilingual professionals are in high demand for roles such as nurses, customer service representatives, educators, and analysts, where language access and cultural competence directly impact service quality, public safety, and economic growth.

Just a few of the key benefits of recognizing Virginia’s Seal of Biliteracy as a full CTE credential are;

It aligns with Virginia's workforce development goals particularly in addressing labor shortages of multilingual employees.
It supports the goals in both, the profile of a Virginia graduate and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce's Blueprint 2030, that proficiency in two or more languages as a necessary workplace readiness skill.
It validates the hundreds of hours of study and practice to attain a high level of language proficiency as a career-ready skill, especially for heritage speakers and second language learners.
It promotes equity and opportunity, encouraging students from diverse linguistic backgrounds to pursue meaningful career pathways in Virginia.
It supports a more inclusive, responsive, and globally competitive workforce.

As President, and on behalf of the Virginia Organization of World Language Supervisors I respectfully and strongly urge the Board to count the VA Seal of Biliteracy as an indicator of 3E Employment Readiness towards school accreditation. We also strongly urge the Board to recognize the Seal as a CTE exam eligible for state and federal reimbursements as costs are minimal.

We sincerely applaud the Board for prioritizing second language instruction and our bilingual students by not treating the Seal of Biliteracy any differently than other industry credentials that are supported.

CommentID: 237413