Benicia Unified School District

Merits & Awards

BUSD strives to recognize student accomplishment and success in their academic careers in as many ways as possible.  Benicia Unified participates in California recognition programs such as the Seal of Bilteracy and the Golen State Seal Merit Diploma

Seal of Biliteracy

Seal of Biliteracy- The State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB), marked by a gold seal on the diploma or transcript, recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages in addition to English. This program recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages in addition to English. 

A student who graduates from high school must have achieved a high level of literacy and fluency in one or more language(s) in addition to English.

The student must demonstrate:

  1. Completion of all English language arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in those classes.
  2. Passage of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) for English language arts administered in grade eleven, at or above the “standard met” achievement level.
  3. Proficiency in one or more languages, other than English, demonstrated through one of the following methods:
    • Passage of a world language Advanced Placement (AP) examination with a score of 3 or higher, or an International Baccalaureate (IB) examination with a score of 4 or more.
    • Successful completion of a four-year high school course of study in a world language, attaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in that course of study, and demonstration of oral proficiency in the language comparable to that required to pass an AP or IB examination.
    • Passage of a district test with a score of proficient or higher (if the school district can certify that the test meets the level of an AP exam) demonstrating proficiency in all of the modes of communication (reading, writing, and speaking) that characterize communication in the language.
    • Passage of the SAT II world language examination with a score of 600 or higher.
  4. In addition to the requirements mentioned above, if the primary language of a pupil is other than English, they shall demonstrate English proficiency on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), or any previous or successor state English language proficiency assessment, in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive (California Education Code Section 51461).

California Department of Education, August 2022

Golden State Seal Merit Diploma

Merit Diploma- To be eligible for the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, students (1) must be eligible to receive a high school diploma; and (2) must have demonstrated the mastery of the curriculum in at least six subject areas, as follows:

  1. English language arts/literacy (ELA)—students must have earned one of any of the following:
    • A grade of B+ or above (or numerical equivalent) in a single course (each semester) completed in grade nine or ten or eleven
    • An achievement level of “Standard Met” or above for the high school Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment
  2. Mathematics—students must have earned one of any of the following:
    • A grade of B+ or above (or numeric equivalent) in a single course (each semester) completed in grade nine or ten or eleven
    • An achievement level of “Standard Met” or above for the high school Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment
  3. Science—students must have earned one of any of the following:
    • A grade of B+ or above (or numeric equivalent) in a single course (each semester) completed in grade nine or ten or eleven
    • An achievement level of “Standard Met” or above for the high school California Science Test taken in grade ten or eleven
  4. U.S. history—students must have earned one of any of the following:
    • A grade of B or above (or numerical equivalent) upon completion of the required U.S. history course (each semester)
    • A qualifying score that demonstrates mastery of the subject as determined by the LEA for an examination produced by a private provider or the LEA
  5. Two additional subject areas—students may choose from any of the following:
    • Any additional qualifying grade or score listed above, earned for the subject of ELA, mathematics, science, or U.S. history not already used to meet eligibility
    • A grade of B or above (or numerical equivalent) upon the completion of high school courses in other subjects
    • A qualifying score that demonstrates mastery of other subjects, as determined by the LEA, for an examination produced by a private provider or the LEA

California Department of Education