summary
Introduced
02/03/2026
02/03/2026
In Committee
02/03/2026
02/03/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district is exempt from requiring pupils, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, to complete 2 years of foreign language in order to graduate if the school district sends a written request to waive the requirement to the State Board of Education and includes evidence in the request that the school district does not have the employees necessary to provide 2 years of foreign language education to all pupils in secondary school within the school district. Provides that after receiving a written request from a school district, the State Superintendent of Education shall approve the request if the evidence included in the request is determined by the State Superintendent to be sufficient. Provides that a pupil is exempt from the 2-year foreign language requirement if the pupil or a school counselor, in consultation with the pupil, develops a postsecondary plan that is centered around postsecondary opportunities that do not include postsecondary education through an institution of higher education. Provides that the pupil or the school counselor shall send the postsecondary plan to the superintendent of the school district in order to be exempt from the 2-year foreign language requirement. Effective July 1, 2026.
AI Summary
This bill, effective July 1, 2026, modifies high school graduation requirements by creating exemptions to the mandatory two years of foreign language study, which is set to take effect for students entering ninth grade in the 2028-2029 school year. School districts can be exempt from this foreign language requirement if they formally request a waiver from the State Board of Education and provide evidence that they lack the necessary staff to offer two years of foreign language instruction to all secondary students. Additionally, individual students can be exempt if they, in consultation with a school counselor, develop a postsecondary plan focused on opportunities that do not involve attending a higher education institution, and this plan is submitted to the school district superintendent.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Assignments (on 02/03/2026)
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