Global Education Recognitions

Focus

A main focus or goal of the State Board of Education's Task Force report, "Preparing Students for the World" (January 2013) was to establish criteria for Global Education designations that would recognize the work of individuals and organizations.

There are now designations that can be earned by students graduating from high school and educators implementing global education in various learning environments. There are also designations for K-12 public schools and districts that recognize significant focus and dedication to global education.

For details about how to earn each recognition, please click on the links below.

Tab/Accordion Items

Students can earn North Carolina's Seal of Biliteracy, the Global Language Endorsement (GLE), which is one of seven High School Diploma Endorsements available to graduates. The purpose is to provide a way for students to show their multiliteracy in English and at least one World Language. Students may add as many World Languages for which they qualify to a GLE on their diploma.

The GLE, North Carolina's Seal of Biliteracy, has been available since the Class of 2015. In July 2024, several updates were made to the GLE policy. Details about earning this recognition are posted below.

Questions about the Global Language Endorsement, NC's Seal of Biliteracy, can be emailed to the GLE Team using the NCDPI Global Education Steering Committee email at ncglobaleducation@dpi.nc.gov.

Policy Requirements

Please see the GLE Infographic of the policy requirements if you would prefer a visual version of the text below.

English

To demonstrate mastery of the English language, the student must fulfill ONE of the following:

  • Complete English IV or equivalent course and earn a cumulative, unweighted grade point average of at least 2.5 for all English coursework required for graduation 
    (The Level IV or equivalent course has been crosswalked to community college ENG 241 or ENG 242 if ENG 111 and ENG 112 have also been completed. The qualifying course codes for AP, IB, Cambridge, community college, and university courses are included in the PowerSchool and Infinite Campus automation.)
  • Use the Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM) process to complete the English IV course required for graduation
  • Take a nationally norm-referenced external exam approved by NCDPI and achieve a score that meets the English requirement as noted on the list

World Languages

To demonstrate mastery of a World Language at the Intermediate Mid proficiency level or higher, the student must fulfill ONE of the following:

  • Complete a Level IV or higher course in a World Language and earn a cumulative, unweighted grade point average of at least 2.5 for all World Language coursework in that language
    (Level IV or higher courses have been crosswalked to community college Level 212 or Intermediate II courses. Details for each language are in the Alignment of World Language High School Courses with Community College Courses information in the Crosswalks area of the World Languages Resources Hub. The qualifying course codes for AP, IB, Cambridge, community college, and university courses are included in the PowerSchool and Infinite Campus automation.)
  • Use the Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM) process to complete a Level IV or higher course in a World Language, including the home and heritage languages used across North Carolina
  • Take a nationally or internationally norm-referenced external exam approved by NCDPI and achieve a score of Intermediate Mid or higher in that language

Additional Notes

North Carolina's Seal of Biliteracy, the GLE, is automated in PowerSchool and Infinite Campus and the qualifying World Language(s) and proficiency level(s) will appear on the student transcript.

For the World Language(s) of a GLE, the minimum proficiency level is Intermediate Mid.

  • If a student meets the World Language requirement through course completion, Intermediate Mid proficiency will be posted on the transcript.
  • If a student meets the World Language requirement through the external exam or CDM option at the Intermediate Mid level or a higher level of proficiency (ex. Intermediate High, Advanced Low, Advanced Mid, Advanced High, or Superior), the proficiency level obtained will be posted on the transcript.

If a student uses the external exam option to fulfill the requirement for English or for a World Language, the school or district must enter the qualifying scores from the approved external assessment lists manually in PowerSchool or Infinite Campus so that these artifacts can be located in the automated identification logic.

If a student uses the CDM option to fulfill the requirement for a World Language, the school or district must enter the proficiency level for the GLE from the World Language Course Codes for CDM document (updated link coming soon!) manually in PowerSchool or Infinite Campus so that these artifacts can be located in the automated identification logic. For additional information about using the CDM with World Language courses, please see the CDM Back to School memo and other CDM implementation resources on the CDM webpage.

Resources

  • The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the GLE, NC's Seal of Biliteracy, has over 20 answers to questions about understanding the overall policy, supporting students in different types of language learning environments in meeting the requirements, and documenting the proficiency level(s) of World Language(s). The GLE FAQs are also available at https://go.ncdpi.gov/GLEquestions
  • The GLE User Guide for PowerSchool/Infinite Campus (currently being updated) provides information on the GLE policy requirements and how PowerSchool and Infinite Campus will automatically identify qualifying students. Information is also included on how and where one can check in PowerSchool/Infinite Campus for students in a school that may be qualifying for any of the High School Diploma Endorsements.

Publications

NCDPI has the following materials available to inform students, teachers, school counselors, administrators, families, and community members about the GLE, NC's Seal of Biliteracy:

  • GLE Brochure (updated in 2024) at https://go.ncdpi.gov/NCSoBLGLEbrochure features information about how the Seal of Biliteracy recognizes career and college-ready language skills. A summary of the GLE policy requirements and quick facts are included, along with the benefits of earning a Seal of Biliteracy and student testimonials. The GLE Brochure was developed in Canva and various formats (PDF, PNG, JPG) are available in the GLE Brochure folder to download for local presentations and publications.
  • GLE Communications Toolkit (updated in 2024) at https://go.ncdpi.gov/NCSoBLGLEtoolkit has links to this webpage, the GLE FAQs, the GLE policy infographics, the current GLE brochure, and (eventually) the CAST for World Languages Canvas course. It also includes social media materials that are adaptable. 
  • GLE Infographic (updated in 2024) at https://go.ncdpi.gov/NCSoBLGLEinfographic  is a visual of the policy requirements and the PDF version includes hyperlinks to the external exam lists. The GLE Infographic was developed in Canva and various formats (PDF, PNG, JPG) are available in the GLE Infographic folder to download for local presentations and publications.

GLE Data, 2015 - Present

The Global Languages Endorsement (GLE), North Carolina's Seal of Biliteracy, has recognized graduates with proficiency in over a dozen World Languages, including: American Sign Language (ASL), Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Persian, Pohnpeian, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Ukrainian.

Details for each graduating class are available by clicking on these spreadsheets:

Feel free to download a copy of the View Only spreadsheets for your own analysis. 

If you have questions about an individual high school's results, you can access the North Carolina School Report Card and view the Career and College Ready section with data for all of the High School Diploma Endorsements, which is available for 2018 - present. 

If you have questions about your district's results, please use the statewide directories on the World Languages Networking page to contact your public school unit's K-12 World Language Coordinator(s).

The Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB) process increases educators' awareness and implementation of global competence. It also allows educators to receive credit for what is already being done in schools and classrooms and for professional learning experiences.

To earn the GEDB, educators complete micro-credentials, which address six Professional Teaching Standards related to Global Education,  collect artifacts/evidence for each Global Education Competency, and submit a final portfolio in the Global Educator Micro-Credentials and Digital Badge Canvas Site. All educators are welcome to pursue the GEDB, including teachers (in-service and pre-service), instructional support personnel, and administrators at the building or central office level.

Please click on the links below to access resources with information about earning the GEDB:

Currently, there are over 140 educators who have earned their GEDB, including teachers and principals from across the K-12 spectrum in Arts Education, Career & Technical Education (CTE), English as a Second Language (ESL), English Language Arts (ELA), Instructional Technology (IT), Math, Physical Education, Science, STEM, Social Studies, and World Languages.

The Global Ready Designations were created to recognize schools and districts for their efforts in supporting global awareness, increasing global competence, and highlighting global education initiatives.

Schools can be recognized with the Global Ready School (GRS) designation by demonstrating that they meet the criteria on the GRS rubric at the "Prepared" or "Model" level through the application process. There are 10 Global-Ready Attributes on the rubric with 2 - 6 Key Elements each that address the following:

  • Career-ready employer requirements and community connections across the school's grade levels
  • Global school partnerships and classroom projects focused on thinking global and acting local
  • K-12 world language opportunities for all, including the school's students
  • Local resolutions, strategic plans, and teams supporting global education
  • Pathways for educators in the school to achieve the Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB)

Please click on the links below to access and share resources for submitting a Global Ready School (GRS) application:

* GRS applications for the initial designation or a renewal can be submitted at any time. They are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and schools that earn the GRS Designation will be publicly recognized during the October State Board of Education meeting.

Questions about the GRS Designation can be emailed to the NCDPI Global Education Steering Committee at ncglobaleducation@dpi.nc.gov

Current Global Ready School Designation recipients:

Elementary & K - 8 Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Past Global-Ready School Designation recipients:

 

The Global Ready Designations were created to recognize schools and districts for their efforts in supporting global awareness, increasing global competence, and highlighting global education initiatives.

Districts can be recognized with the Global-Ready District (GRD) designation by demonstrating that they meet the criteria on the GRD rubric at the "Prepared" or "Model" level through the application process. There are 10 Global-Ready Attributes on the rubric with 2 - 6 Key Elements each that address the following:

  • Career-ready employer requirements and community connections across the district's schools
  • Global school and/or district partnerships and classroom projects focused on thinking global and acting local
  • K-12 world language opportunities for all of the district's students
  • Local resolutions, strategic plans, and teams supporting global education
  • Pathways for educators in schools across the district to achieve the Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB)

Please click on the links below to access and share resources for submitting a Global Ready District (GRD) application:

* GRD applications for the initial designation or a renewal can be submitted at any time. They are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and districts that earn the GRD Designation will be publicly recognized during the October State Board of Education meeting.

Questions about the GRD Designation can be emailed to the NCDPI Global Education Steering Committee at ncglobaleducation@dpi.nc.gov

Current Global Ready District Designation recipients:

Past Global Ready District Designation recipients: