A New Way for Colorado High Schoolers to Prove They're Bilingual

The Bottom Line

Right now, only a third of Colorado school districts offer a "seal of biliteracy" for graduating seniors who speak a second language. This bill creates a new "bilingualism" diploma endorsement focused strictly on spoken language skills and allows students to get certified through third-party colleges or nonprofits if their own high school doesn't offer the program.

What This Bill Actually Does

Currently, Colorado offers a Seal of Biliteracy for high school grads who prove they can read, write, speak, and understand English and a second world language. But there is a massive geographical catch: only 55 out of Colorado's 179 school districts actually offer the seal. That leaves students—especially those in rural areas or smaller districts without formal language programs—without a standardized way to officially verify their language skills for college applications or employers.

This bill tackles that gap by introducing a new, distinct Seal of Bilingualism. While "biliteracy" requires reading and writing, "bilingualism" focuses purely on oral proficiency—the ability to speak, actively listen to, and understand English and another world language. To earn it, students must meet state English guidelines (like holding a 3.0 GPA in English courses or passing an Advanced Placement exam) and prove their second-language chops by passing a nationally recognized oral test. Alternatively, they can submit a rigorous body of evidence—like recorded interviews or presentations—that measures up to the rigor of an AP exam.

Here is the most significant structural change: if a student's local high school doesn't offer these diploma endorsements, they aren't out of luck. The bill allows students to bypass their school district and go through an approved entity—such as an institution of higher education or an educational nonprofit certified by the Colorado Department of Education. Once the student meets the requirements, the approved entity sends verification back to the high school so the student gets the official endorsement stamped on their diploma.

What It Means for You

If you have a teenager who speaks a second language at home or has spent years studying one, this legislation gives them a tangible way to get credit for that hard work. Earning a Seal of Biliteracy or a Seal of Bilingualism is a powerful credential to put on college applications and entry-level job resumes. By separating spoken fluency (bilingualism) from reading and writing (biliteracy), the state acknowledges that being able to converse fluently in a second language is a massive asset, even if the student hasn't mastered the formal written grammar of that language.

The real game-changer here is for families living outside major metro school districts. If your local school district is one of the roughly 120 districts that do not offer a seal program, your child can now seek certification through an outside approved entity, like a local community college or an authorized educational nonprofit. You won't have to petition your local school board to create a whole new curriculum just so your kid can get their diploma endorsed.

And here is the best part for your wallet: the bill specifically states that any fee charged by these third-party organizations to process the endorsement must be paid by your student's local education provider (the school district). The school district foots the administrative bill. This ensures that a student's ability to get this credential isn't limited by their family's ability to pay extra testing or certification fees. If your student is approaching graduation, it is worth checking to see if they meet the English proficiency baseline (like a 3.0 GPA in English language arts) so they are positioned to apply for the seal.

What It Means for Your Business

For Colorado business owners—especially in healthcare, construction, hospitality, and retail—hiring staff who can communicate with a diverse customer base is a constant priority. Colorado public schools currently educate over 114,000 multilingual learners. By making these diploma endorsements more accessible and introducing a speaking-focused Seal of Bilingualism, you will start seeing more entry-level applicants with state-backed language credentials on their resumes. This takes the guesswork out of hiring; you won't have to conduct informal language tests during interviews because the state (or a certified third party) has already verified their oral proficiency.

If you operate an educational nonprofit or work within an institution of higher education, this legislation opens up a direct partnership and service opportunity. The Colorado Department of Education is tasked with certifying approved entities to evaluate students and grant these endorsements. Organizations that can develop robust, rigorous methods for testing language proficiency—especially through evaluating a body of evidence for languages that might not have standard AP tests available—can step in to fill the gap left by rural or under-resourced school districts.

The bill explicitly allows these approved entities to charge a fee to cover the actual and indirect costs of providing the endorsement. Because these fees are billed directly to the student's local education provider (the school district) rather than the student, certified nonprofits and colleges have a reliable, institutional payer. If your organization specializes in language assessment, tutoring, or educational testing, you should keep an eye on the Department of Education's uniform educational requirements to see if you qualify to become a certified provider.

Follow the Money

At the state level, the fiscal note shows zero required appropriations—meaning it doesn't cost the state's general fund any additional money to implement. The Department of Education will handle the certification of third-party entities within its existing budget. State colleges and universities might actually see a slight bump in revenue if they choose to act as certifying entities, as they can charge fees for their testing and administrative services. Revenue from these fees is not subject to TABOR caps.

The financial impact lands almost entirely on local school districts. If a district chooses not to run its own biliteracy or bilingualism program, it is legally required to pay the fees charged by third-party certifiers when local students independently seek the endorsement. While individual testing fees are generally small, districts with high populations of multilingual students could see a new, decentralized line item in their budgets as students take advantage of these outside testing organizations.

Where This Bill Stands

HB26-1028 is currently Signed Into Law. The latest official action came on 06/02/2026: Governor Signed.

That means the legislative process is complete and the bill is now law. The remaining questions are about implementation timing and how agencies, businesses, or local governments respond.