District 202 announced on May 22 that ninety-three students from all four high schools earned the State of Illinois Seal of Biliteracy for the 2025-2026 school year.
The recognition highlights student achievement in both English and another language, emphasizing the growing number of graduates who are proficient in multiple languages. The district said more students each year have been earning this distinction since it was first recognized locally in 2018.
In addition to the seal, fifty seniors received a new designation called the State Commendation Toward Biliteracy. This award is given by the Illinois State Board of Education to graduating seniors who have made significant progress toward biliteracy. Students must pass a foreign language Advanced Placement exam with a score of three or higher to earn either honor.
Cindy Castanon, District 202 Director of Multilingual Education, said, “Earning either of these awards is not only an academic achievement but one that has positive financial and career implications.” She also said, “Illinois public colleges and universities also award college credit to those who earn the seal, which can potentially save on tuition costs and fast-track a college minor.” Castanon added, “The seal serves as a state-validated industry credential for students entering trade or technical fields,” and “It gives graduates a distinct competitive edge with employers who value verified language skills in fields like healthcare, business, and technology, often leading to immediate job placement.”
Local school districts give out these recognitions to encourage pursuit of biliteracy among students and honor their mastery of two or more languages. Plainfield East High School is one participating school; it had an enrollment of 2,162 students serving grades nine through twelve during the 2019-2020 school year according to the Illinois Report Card. Out of those enrolled at Plainfield East High School that year, about one quarter were seniors while grade ten had the highest concentration at nearly twenty-five percent according to the Illinois Report Card.
According to the Illinois Report Card, Plainfield East High School’s student body during that period was comprised of approximately forty-two percent white students, sixteen percent black students, twenty-six percent Hispanic students, and eleven percent Asian students.
