Education Laws and Regulations

603 CMR 31.00:

Massachusetts Certificate of Mastery and State Seal of Biliteracy

Section:


Most Recently amended by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: September 20, 2022

31.01: Scope and Purposes

(1) 603 CMR 31.00 establishes the criteria for the Certificate of Mastery, and the State Seal of Biliteracy.

(2) The purposes of the Certificate of Mastery are to:

  1. (a) Recognize high academic achievement;

  2. (b) Motivate students to perform to their best abilities on MCAS and other measures throughout high school;

  3. (c) Recognize high academic achievement in areas not included in MCAS; and

  4. (d) Recognize high academic achievement as identified by outside forums including competitions, student publications, and awards.

(3) The purposes of the State Seal of Biliteracy are to:

  1. (a) Encourage students to study and master languages;

  2. (b) Certify attainment of biliteracy skills;

  3. (c) Recognize the value of language diversity;

  4. (d) Provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills;

  5. (e) Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of high level skills in languages;

  6. (f) Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society; and

  7. (g) Strengthen intergroup communication and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community.

Regulatory Authority:
603 CMR 31.00 — M.G.L. c. 69, §§ 1B, 1D, and 1Q.

For further information regarding this award, please see the Certificate of Mastery's home page.

Disclaimer:
For an official copy of these regulations, please contact the State House Bookstore, at 617-727-2834 or visit Massachusetts State Bookstore .

Last Updated: November 23, 2022