The Illinois State Board of Education is expressing concerns about new graduation mandates approved by lawmakers last week.
If signed into law, the large education bill passed during the lame duck session will require high schoolers to take two years of laboratory science, a computer literacy course and two years of a foreign language. Board member Susie Morrison.
“Somebody has decided that 2 years of a foreign language class is more important than art, music, career and technical education courses in a school day that is already so full and so very limited with time.”
The idea is to make sure students meet college standards but board member Dr. Christine Benson wishes lawmakers had sought the Board’s input.
“What’s the best time to teach a foreign language? It is not high school. When is the second worst time to teach a foreign language? In junior high. So they did no research on this, they just added it on.”
The Board also discussed its legislative priorities for the spring session such as addressing teacher misconduct and ensuring students that have been suspended have access to remote learning while they are out of school so they don’t fall behind.
