On March 5 and 6, 2026, Jones students have the opportunity to take the STAMP (Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency) Test in select languages. Whether through boosting academic confidence or helping with cultural expression, the exam provides numerous benefits for students.

The exam assesses seniors on various skills in a chosen language in order to present students with an Illinois Seal of Biliteracy. 

“The four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking,” said Jones Spanish teacher and STAMP teacher coordinator/CPS representative Michael Sliwicki. “It’s an emphasis on that, in particular with immersion at all levels.”

Beyond Spanish, French and Mandarin, the three languages offered at Jones, the exam is available in a plethora of languages, allowing students of any background to gain bilingual status.

“There’s someone who’s going to take it in Farsi, there’s Russian, there’s Polish,” said Jones French teacher Tory Waterman. “So it’s not just the languages that are offered at Jones. It’s also for if anyone is a native speaker or they speak something else.”

To qualify, students must have completed or enrolled in a level 3 language course or higher.

“We see greater engagement from students who stick with a language. By the time they get to the third and fourth year, level four, level AP, it helps to increase their engagement and commitment to their language,” said Sliwicki. 

Although the exam has been in use for nearly 20 years, it has swiftly grown in popularity in recent times, specifically amongst Jones students.

“It’s grown a lot in popularity across CPS and at Jones. Last year, there were about 50 kids who took the test,” said Sliwicki. “This year, we’ve already got close to 70 signed up in about 10 languages. It’s grown a lot across the country, on a state by state basis, a lot.”

Some students have personal motivations for taking the exam.

“I chose to take the STAMP test in both Spanish and French. With Spanish, I feel like I’ve spent all my life speaking the language, but not being certified as bilingual has bugged me because it’s a really big part of who I am,” said Paola Rubio ‘26. “It’s really the only form that I’m able to communicate with my family members.”

Others see value in the opportunities being bilingual provides. 

“Being bilingual gives you a lot of opportunities in the workforce and just making helpful connections,” said Regina Rodea ‘26. “It helps you connect to other communities. So I really want to improve my French and get to that point.”

The seal additionally helps with specific career aspirations and life goals.

“I think it will for sure set me up for success in the medical field, because I know speaking multiple languages is something that is utilized, especially when meeting with patients that maybe don’t speak English,” said Rubio. “It’ll allow me to effectively communicate as a doctor and even as a person when I’m entering new places or work and school environments.”

Teachers, while not gaining anything personally, recognize the importance of students engaging with STAMP.

“I think getting an award from the state and the government will make them have the confidence that they actually are bilingual,” said Waterman. “I think it helps with jobs and resumes, because they don’t get it until senior year, so they can’t use it for college applications. But it can go on LinkedIn and job searching.”

Although teachers do not explicitly prepare students for STAMP, the curriculum structure remains supportive. 

“All the language teachers, we don’t do specific test prep, but I think that all the activities we do are communicative and can help with that,” said Waterman. “The seal test is different from the AP test because it is a lot more communicative and is about what you know.”

Seniors are engaging in various preparation activities to ensure good test results.

“For the Spanish exam, I’m doing practice essays because I do speaking and reading on a daily basis, but writing is something I could use more practice on,” said Rubio. “And for the French exam, I’m going to be doing multiple flash cards. Simulated conversations, and practicing French emails just to really focus on the writing portion of it.”

Ultimately, the STAMP test provides unmatched opportunities for personal development and is an important asset for students to show their fluency in a variety of languages. 

“It helps for college requirements and the job market, and it also helps honor their culture, and promote multilingualism and multiculturalism,” said Sliwicki.