VUSD Celebrates Record Number of Students Earning State Seal of Biliteracy

Visalia, CA – Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) proudly hosted its 2026 Multilingual Celebration on March 23, recognizing a record number of students for earning the State Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation.

A total of 326 students from across the district earned the prestigious California State Seal of Biliteracy—an increase of nearly 16% over last year. The Seal of Biliteracy is a state recognition awarded to students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. This achievement is honored with a gold, embossed seal affixed to the graduate’s diploma or transcript for each language attained.

This year, students earned the Seal across a diverse range of languages, reflecting the rich cultural and linguistic assets of the VUSD community. The majority of students earned the Seal in Spanish (275), followed by French (22) and American Sign Language (14). Additional languages represented include Lahu (3), Tagalog (3), and individual recognitions in Bengali, Mandarin, and Portuguese. Students were also presented with a commemorative gold cord to wear at graduation.

“Multilingualism opens doors for our students—academically, professionally, and culturally,” said Superintendent Kirk Shrum. “We are incredibly proud of their dedication and grateful to the educators and families who support them every step of the way.”

All University of California and California State University campuses recognize the Seal of Biliteracy as a significant academic accomplishment. While students must still meet A–G language requirements for admission, some California State University campuses may allow the Seal to support placement into higher-level language coursework, depending on the institution.

In addition to the Seal of Biliteracy, over 800 students met the rigorous criteria to be reclassified from English Learners to fully proficient in English, continuing a strong trend of high achievement in language development across the district. These students have demonstrated the academic and social language skills necessary to fully engage in classroom instruction without specialized support. Reclassification represents a significant milestone and expands opportunities for participation in advanced coursework, electives, and extracurricular activities.

The celebration, held at El Diamante High School, featured performances by Dual Language Immersion elementary students and VUSD folklórico groups, highlighting the vibrancy and diversity of the district’s multilingual community.

About Visalia Unified:
Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) is the 32nd largest district in California serving over 32,000 students in preschool to adult at 56 locations, including 42 schools and several administrative buildings that house a community library, a family resource center, a bus transportation hub, and much more.