New York City Public Schools Celebrates Multilingual Graduates At Citywide New York State Seal Of Biliteracy Convocation
NEW YORK, NY — New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) today celebrated over 3,000 students from across the five boroughs who are on track to earn the New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) at the first citywide NYSSB Convocation.
The NYSSB is a distinguished honor awarded to graduating seniors who demonstrate high-level proficiency in English and at least one additional language. Today's convocation brought together over 1,200 students, families, educators, and leaders from across New York City and New York State, including representatives from the New York State Education Department, the City University of New York, the Mayor's Office for International Affairs, the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, and the Consulate Generals of the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Japan, Mexico, and Spain, reflecting the broad, cross-institutional commitment to multilingual education that defines this moment in the city's history.
This convocation marks a significant milestone in the implementation of Boldly Reimagining Multilingual Education, the report produced by the Chancellor's Multilingual NYC Advisory Council in 2025, which identified expanding access to high-quality pathways to multilingualism and recognizing multilingualism as a core competency for college, career, and civic readiness as among its five key priorities. With 44 percent of NYCPS students speaking a language other than English at home and one in five students identified as English Language Learners, today's celebration reflects the school system's ongoing commitment to ensuring that every student's linguistic identity is treated as an asset and a pathway to excellence.
“As a proud product of New York City public schools, I know firsthand that our classrooms help young people learn how to lead, build community and navigate a city as vibrant as ours,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “I am proud to join local and international leaders in celebrating these 3,000 graduates and the achievement of earning the Seal of Biliteracy. At a time when too many seek to divide us by the color of our skin or the languages we speak, these students have demonstrated the power of connecting across cultures. They are entering the world with the tools to communicate with and serve New Yorkers from every walk of life, and I cannot wait to see all that they accomplish.”
"Today we celebrate over 3,000 young New Yorkers who have done something extraordinary. They have proven that multilingualism is a defining feature of what it means to be educated, ready, and prepared to lead in the 21st century," said NYCPS Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels. "New York City is one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world, and there is no better place to become multilingual and no better preparation for what comes next. Our graduates leave today with a Seal that reflects their academic rigor, cultural fluency, and global perspective, qualities that will open doors, bridge communities, and shape the future of this city and this world."
“The Class of 2026 Seal of Biliteracy candidates exemplify the Board of Regents’ vision for educational excellence in New York State,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. “They reflect our Portrait of a Graduate; students who are academically prepared, globally aware, culturally responsive, and equipped to contribute meaningfully to a diverse and interconnected world. By bridging languages and cultures, these students deepen understanding, amplify diverse perspectives, and strengthen communities. As New York State continues to expand opportunities for multilingualism, these graduates will inspire future generations to learn, connect, and innovate across cultures.”
"CUNY congratulates every graduate earning the New York State Seal of Biliteracy and welcomes them as future scholars on our campuses,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. "At CUNY, we recognize multilingualism as an essential skill for college, career, and civic life, and many CUNY colleges offer college credit to students who enroll with the Seal as a tangible recognition of the academic rigor they have achieved. The multilingual leaders we celebrate today are our bilingual nurses and teachers and policy makers tomorrow, representing the future of our university and city."
"New York City is one of the most international cities in the world, and our multilingual graduates are its most powerful expression," said Commissioner Ana María Archila of the Mayor's Office for International Affairs. "Mayor Mamdani's vision for a city where every New Yorker can fully participate in its life is embodied in these graduates, young people whose depth of understanding and facility for connection across cultures and communities are exactly what this city needs. On behalf of the Mayor's Office for International Affairs, we celebrate their achievement and look forward to the contributions they will make to New York City and to the world."
"The New York State Seal of Biliteracy is a symbol of New York State's commitment to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to develop the linguistic and cultural competencies they need to thrive in college, career, and civic life," said NYSED Commissioner Betty A. Rosa. "The nearly 3,000 New York City Public Schools students on a path to earn the Seal this year are a testament to what becomes possible when school systems invest boldly in multilingual education. On behalf of the New York State Education Department, I congratulate every graduate and extend my deepest gratitude to the educators, families, and communities whose dedication made this achievement possible."
"Today we honor the courage, sacrifice, and faith of the students and families who carried their languages and cultures across borders and across generations, and refused to let them go," said Commissioner Faiza N. Ali of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. "Under the Mamdani administration, we believe that language access, education, and belonging are essential infrastructure for this city. These graduates are living proof of that belief, and it is our privilege to celebrate them and to commit, on behalf of the City of New York, to continuing to build a city where every immigrant child and family has the safety and dignity and opportunity that are the rights of every New Yorker."
In addition to today's convocation, NYCPS continues to expand access to the Seal of Biliteracy by increasing the number of participating schools and the range of languages offered. Currently, NYCPS offers 579 bilingual education programs in 13 languages, including 35 new programs that began this school year. The City University of New York now awards college credits across 12 colleges to students who enroll with the Seal, providing graduates with a tangible academic and financial head start on their postsecondary journey.
For more information about the New York State Seal of Biliteracy and multilingual education programs at New York City Public Schools, visit schools.nyc.gov.
Contact: Chancellor's Press Office press@schools.nyc.gov