SJR 50

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Full Text of SJR0050
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	SJR0050 - 104th General Assembly
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		SJ0050		LRB104 16130 LAW 29475 r
1SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2    WHEREAS, In 2006, the federal Secretaries of State,
3Education, and Defense, and the Director of National
4Intelligence launched the National Security Language
5Initiative to increase the number of Americans learning and
6teaching foreign languages of critical importance to national
7security and global competitiveness; and
8    WHEREAS, The National Security Language Initiative was
9founded on the recognition that speaking another's language
10promotes understanding and conveys respect for other countries
11and cultures, strengthens the ability of the United States to
12engage foreign peoples and governments, and provides others
13with an opportunity to learn more about America and its
14people; and
15    WHEREAS, In 2008, the federal government designated Arabic
16as a "Critical Need Language"; and
17    WHEREAS, Arabic is a global language spoken by hundreds of
18millions of people and is one of the six official languages of
19the United Nations; and
20    WHEREAS, Arabic is central to cultural, economic, and
21diplomatic engagement worldwide, yet remains far less
		SJ0050	- 2 -	LRB104 16130 LAW 29475 r
1available than other world languages in U.S. K-12 education;
2and
3    WHEREAS, Expanding Arabic instruction helps build both
4linguistic and intercultural competence, preparing students to
5be more informed, productive, and compassionate global
6citizens in a world where understanding and connection across
7cultures is essential; and
8    WHEREAS, Over the past 15 years, global events, including
9sustained U.S. diplomatic, economic, and security engagement
10in the Middle East and North Africa, have only heightened the
11strategic value of Arabic proficiency; and
12    WHEREAS, The U.S. federal government continues to reaffirm
13Arabic as a critical language through programs such as the
14National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), the
15Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program, and other
16National Security Education Program grants, which provide
17immersive and virtual opportunities for Arabic study; and
18    WHEREAS, The Department of Defense, through the Defense
19Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) and
20the Language Flagship, continues to support pathways to
21professional-level proficiency in Arabic and other critical
22languages, reflecting awareness of enduring national security
		SJ0050	- 3 -	LRB104 16130 LAW 29475 r
1and diplomatic needs; and
2    WHEREAS, The 2017 National Security Strategy emphasized
3the importance of cultural, religious, and language
4understanding as vital tools for American statecraft,
5underscoring the role of foreign languages in advancing U.S.
6interests abroad; and
7    WHEREAS, Illinois was among the first states in the nation
8to establish a State Seal of Biliteracy that included the
9Arabic language, enacted by Public Act 98-0560 and codified in
10Section 2-3.157 of the School Code, to recognize high school
11graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in
12English and one or more additional languages, thereby
13encouraging language study and honoring multilingual
14achievement; and
15    WHEREAS, The Illinois State Board of Education supports
16world language instruction through its Arts and Foreign
17Language Education Grant Program, and Illinois has enacted a
18two-year world language high school graduation requirement
19beginning with students who enter ninth grade in the 2028-2029
20school year, thereby strengthening multilingual education
21opportunities for Illinois students; and
22    WHEREAS, The Chicago Arabic Teachers Council, established
		SJ0050	- 4 -	LRB104 16130 LAW 29475 r
1more than a decade ago as a collaborative initiative among
2educators, universities, and cultural institutions, has served
3as a leading professional network and community of practice
4for Arabic language teachers across Illinois and beyond,
5promoting excellence in instruction, curriculum development,
6and intercultural understanding in K-12 education; and
7    WHEREAS, The Chicago Arabic Teachers Council's
8collaborations have historically included partnerships with
9the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and DePaul
10University, demonstrating broad support from higher education
11leaders across the State for advancing Arabic language
12education and teacher professional development; and
13    WHEREAS, Arabic is one of the world languages offered
14within the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, and the
15inclusion of Arabic language instruction in IB programs within
16Illinois public and private schools enhances students' access
17to globally recognized credentials, strengthens college and
18career readiness, and reflects the State's commitment to
19preparing globally competent graduates; and
20    WHEREAS, Supporting the expansion of Arabic language
21programs within the IB continuum, including the Primary Years,
22Middle Years, and Diploma Programs, aligns with Illinois'
23educational goals of multilingualism,
		SJ0050	- 5 -	LRB104 16130 LAW 29475 r
1international-mindedness, and academic excellence; and
2    WHEREAS, The 96th General Assembly unanimously adopted
3Senate Joint Resolution 68 during the 2009-2010 legislative
4session, encouraging school districts in Illinois to explore
5the introduction of Arabic as a foreign language option in
6their curriculum, making many of the same points that remain
7true today, 15 years later; therefore, be it
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
10REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we encourage school
11districts in the State of Illinois to explore the introduction
12of Arabic as a foreign language option in their curriculum,
13particularly through transparent and collaborative processes
14that make full use of available state and federal resources;
15and be it further
16    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17delivered to the school districts of the State of Illinois.