World Language Credit Program | Washington State Governor's Office of the Education Ombuds

World Language Competency-based Credits

Did you know that as a high school student you may be able to get credit for a language that you already know?

World Language Competency-based Credits (WLCbC) are when students earn high school graduation credits for language skills by showing proficiency on an accepted test.

Identifying Eligible Students

Who is able to earn World Language Competency-based Credits?

All students are allowed to earn WLCbC.

What languages are eligible for WLCbC?

All languages are allowed to earn WLCbC.

What Graduation Pathway should a student choose to earn credits?

All pathways allow a student to earn WLCbC.

For more information on the program visit the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's: World Language Competency-Based Credits (OSPI web page).

World Language Credit Program provides these opportunities for students:

To honor and validate students' first language and the languages of their families
To provide opportunities for fluent and literate speakers to receive high school credit for their knowledge of these languages
To open up opportunities for students to access core subject credits required for graduation (This is a significant opportunity for ELL students who enter the U.S. high school system mid-year or with limited core subject credits.)
To prepare bilingual students for future career opportunities in private industry and to meet government needs for skilled bilingual speakers
To motivate students to take advanced courses in their heritage languages at their schools, in college or at ethnic community centers

For more information on the program visit the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's World Languages page.

Washington State Seal Of Biliteracy

The Washington State Seal of Biliteracy was established in 2014 with the intent to recognize public high school graduates who have attained an intermediate-mid proficiency in English and one or more world languages, including American Sign Language and Tribal languages. Students in all Graduation Pathways are eligible to earn the Seal. Participating school districts with students eligible to receive the Seal shall place a notation on a student's high school diploma and high school transcript indicating that the student has earned the Seal. For more information visit the OSPI's Seal of Biliteracy page.

World Language Credit Brochures

Available by request from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's World Languages page in the following languages.

English (black & white)
Amharic
Arabic
Chinese
Nepali
Punjabi
Russian
Somali
Spanish
Tagalog
Vietnamese

World Language Credits Video Clips on YouTube

Courtesy of OneAmerica: