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SB3301Introduced in the Senate

SCH CD-EXEMPT FOREIGN LANG REQ

IntroducedSenate Assignments

Introduced by Chris Balkema, District 53

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

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.

Where it stands

Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

April 30, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

No recorded vote is available for this bill yet.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

Bill history

  1. Filed with Secretary by Sen. Chris Balkema

  2. First Reading

  3. Referred to Assignments

  4. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter

  5. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

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