IL SJR0068

Federal Secretaries of State, Education, and Defense and the Director of National Intelligence established the National Security Language Initiative in 2006 to increase Americans learning critical need foreign languages for national security and global competitiveness.

Arabic was designated as a "Critical Need" language in 2008 under the National Security Language Initiative, with federal Foreign Language Assistance Program grants available to support instruction.

Illinois received $240,000 in federal grants in 2008 for summer Arabic instruction for Chicago public school students at the University of Chicago, and Mayor Daley announced a $1,000,000 expansion of the Critical Languages Program in May 2008.

Several Illinois public schools including Lindblom Math & Science Academy, Lincoln Park High School, Roosevelt High School, and Volta, Durkin Park, and Peck Elementary Schools have already begun offering Arabic as a foreign language option.

Resolution encourages school districts throughout Illinois to explore introducing Arabic as a foreign language in their curriculum, particularly in districts with community interest, utilizing available state and federal funding resources through a transparent, collaborative process.