SCH CD-FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQ

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB4026

Select Language

×

The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein.

Visitors of the Illinois General Assembly website are encouraged to use other translation services available on the internet.

The English language version is always the official and authoritative version of this website.

NOTE: To return to the original English language version, select the "Show Original" button on the Google Translate™ menu bar at the top of the window.

Choose Language

English

Afrikaans

Albanian

Arabic

Armenian

Azerbaijani

Basque

Bengali

Bosnian

Catalan

Croatian

Czech

Danish

Dutch

Esperanto

Estonian

Filipino

Finnish

French

Galician

Georgian

German

Greek

Gujarati

Haitian Creole

Hausa

Hawaiian

Hebrew

Hindi

Hungarian

Icelandic

Indonesian

Interlingua

Interlingue

Inuktitut

Irish

Italian

Japanese

Javanese

Kannada

Khmer

Korean

Latin

Latvian

Lithuanian

Luxembourgish

Macedonian

Malagasy

Malayalam

Maltese

Maori

Marathi

Myanmar

Nepali

Norwegian

Odia

Pashto

Punjabi

Romanian

Russian

Samoan

Sango

Sanskrit

Sardinian

Sindhi

Sinhala

Slovak

Slovenian

Somali

Southern Sotho

Spanish

Sundanese

Swahili

Swedish

Tamil

Telugu

Thai

Tigrinya

Tonga

Turkish

Ukrainian

Urdu

Vietnamese

Welsh

Xhosa

Yiddish

Yoruba

Zulu

Powered by
Translate

Close

Illinois General Assembly

Top Navigation Bar

Translate

Learn

Select General Assembly

Search the 104th General Assembly

Enter search terms for legislation, members, committees, or schedules.

ILGA.GOV

LEGISLATION & LAWS

Bills & Resolutions

Public Acts

Illinois Compiled Statutes

Illinois Constitution

Search Legislation

Glossary

Guide

Reports & Inquiry

Legislative Reports

Special Reports

FTP Site

Legislator Lookup

Capitol Complex Phone Numbers

Rules & Regulations

Illinois Register

Administrative Rules

Senate

Members

Schedules

Committees

Request for Remote Testimony

Journals

Transcripts

Rules

Audio/Video

FOIA Information

Senate Employment Opportunities

Media Guidelines

House

Members

Schedules

Committees

Submit testimony for House Committees

Journals

Transcripts

Rules

Audio/Video

FOIA Information

House Employment Opportunities

Log In

Mobile Top Bar

Search the 104th General Assembly

Enter keywords to search the Illinois General Assembly website.

Full Text of SB4026

Home

Legislation

Full Text

SB4026 - 104th General Assembly

Bill Status

Full Text

Votes

Witness Slips

Select Menu

Bill Status

Full Text

Votes

Witness Slips

Printer Friendly Version

Introduced

Printer Friendly Version

Introduced

Open PDF

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB4026

Introduced 2/6/2026, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/27-605

was 105 ILCS 5/27-22

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. With respect
to the requirement that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, each
pupil entering the 9th grade must, as a prerequisite to receiving a high
school diploma, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses,
requires a high school to offer 2 years of foreign-language course credit
to any student who either (i) successfully passes a standardized test of
language proficiency for a language other than English at the level
required for the State Seal of Biliteracy or (ii) presents an official
transcript demonstrating completion of 2 years of high-school equivalency
in which the language of instruction was in a language other than English.
LRB104 20167 LNS 33618 b

A BILL FOR

SB4026
LRB104 20167 LNS 33618 b
1

AN ACT concerning education.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 5.
The School Code is amended by changing Section
5
27-605 as follows:

6

(105 ILCS 5/27-605)

(was 105 ILCS 5/27-22)
7

Sec. 27-605.
Required high school courses.
8

(a) (Blank).
9

(b) (Blank).
10

(c) (Blank).
11

(d) (Blank).
12

(e) Through the 2023-2024 school year, as a prerequisite
13
to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the
14
9th grade must, in addition to other course requirements,
15
successfully complete all of the following courses:
16

(1) Four years of language arts.
17

(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
18

which must be English and the other of which may be English
19

or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
20

courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
21

graduation requirements.
22

(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
23

Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and

SB4026
- 2 -
LRB104 20167 LNS 33618 b
1

one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
2

course. A mathematics course that includes geometry
3

content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
4

interdisciplinary, or career and technical education
5

course that prepares a student for a career readiness
6

path.
7

(3.5) For pupils entering the 9th grade in the
8

2022-2023 school year and 2023-2024 school year, one year
9

of a course that includes intensive instruction in
10

computer literacy, which may be English, social studies,
11

or any other subject and which may be counted toward the
12

fulfillment of other graduation requirements.
13

(4) Two years of science.
14

(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
15

year must be history of the United States or a combination
16

of history of the United States and American government
17

and, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the
18

2016-2017 school year and each school year thereafter, at
19

least one semester must be civics, which shall help young
20

people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and
21

attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and
22

responsible citizens throughout their lives. Civics course
23

content shall focus on government institutions, the
24

discussion of current and controversial issues, service
25

learning, and simulations of the democratic process.
26

School districts may utilize private funding available for

SB4026
- 3 -
LRB104 20167 LNS 33618 b
1

the purposes of offering civics education. Beginning with
2

pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school
3

year, one semester, or part of one semester, may include a
4

financial literacy course.
5

(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
6

foreign language, which shall be deemed to include
7

American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E)
8

forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech
9

course used to satisfy the course requirement under
10

subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course
11

requirement under this subdivision (6).
12

(e-5) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, as a
13
prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil
14
entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course
15
requirements, successfully complete all of the following
16
courses:
17

(1) Four years of language arts.
18

(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
19

which must be English and the other of which may be English
20

or any other subject. If applicable, writing-intensive
21

courses may be counted toward the fulfillment of other
22

graduation requirements.
23

(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
24

Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
25

one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
26

course. A mathematics course that includes geometry

SB4026
- 4 -
LRB104 20167 LNS 33618 b
1

content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
2

interdisciplinary, or career and technical education
3

course that prepares a student for a career readiness
4

path.
5

(3.5) One year of a course that includes intensive
6

instruction in computer literacy, which may be English,
7

social studies, or any other subject and which may be
8

counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation
9

requirements.
10

(4) Two years of laboratory science.
11

(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
12

year must be history of the United States or a combination
13

of history of the United States and American government
14

and at least one semester must be civics, which shall help
15

young people acquire and learn to use the skills,
16

knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be
17

competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives.
18

Civics course content shall focus on government
19

institutions, the discussion of current and controversial
20

issues, service learning, and simulations of the
21

democratic process. School districts may utilize private
22

funding available for the purposes of offering civics
23

education. One semester, or part of one semester, may
24

include a financial literacy course.
25

(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
26

foreign language, which shall be deemed to include

SB4026
- 5 -
LRB104 20167 LNS 33618 b
1

American Sign Language, (D) career and technical
2

education, or (E) forensic speech (speech and debate). A
3

forensic speech course used to satisfy the course
4

requirement under subdivision (1) may not be used to
5

satisfy the course requirement under this subdivision (6).
6

(e-10) Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a
7
prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil
8
entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course
9
requirements, successfully complete 2 years of foreign
10
language courses, which may include American Sign Language. A
11
pupil may choose a third year of foreign language to satisfy
12
the requirement under subdivision (6) of subsection (e-5).
13

A high school must offer 2 years of foreign-language
14
course credit under this subsection (e-10) to any student who
15
either (i) successfully passes a standardized test of language
16
proficiency for a language other than English at the level
17
required for the State Seal of Biliteracy or (ii) presents an
18
official transcript demonstrating completion of 2 years of
19
high-school equivalency in which the language of instruction
20
was in a language other than English.

21

(f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform
22
school districts of standards for writing-intensive
23
coursework.
24

(f-5) If a school district offers an Advanced Placement
25
computer science course to high school students, then the
26
school board must designate that course as equivalent to a

SB4026
- 6 -
LRB104 20167 LNS 33618 b
1
high school mathematics course and must denote on the
2
student's transcript that the Advanced Placement computer
3
science course qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative
4
course for students in accordance with subdivision (3) of
5
subsection (e) of this Section.
6

(g) Public Act 83-1082 does not apply to pupils entering
7
the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school year and prior school years
8
or to students with disabilities whose course of study is
9
determined by an individualized education program.
10

Public Act 94-676 does not apply to pupils entering the
11
9th grade in the 2004-2005 school year or a prior school year
12
or to students with disabilities whose course of study is
13
determined by an individualized education program.
14

Subdivision (3.5) of subsection (e) does not apply to
15
pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year or a
16
prior school year or to students with disabilities whose
17
course of study is determined by an individualized education
18
program.
19

Subsection (e-5) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th
20
grade in the 2023-2024 school year or a prior school year or to
21
students with disabilities whose course of study is determined
22
by an individualized education program. Subsection (e-10) does
23
not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2027-2028
24
school year or a prior school year or to students with
25
disabilities whose course of study is determined by an
26
individualized education program.

SB4026
- 7 -
LRB104 20167 LNS 33618 b
1

(h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
2
provisions of Sections 14A-32 and 27-610 of this Code and the
3
Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.
4

(i) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to modify
5
the requirements of this Section for any students enrolled in
6
grades 9 through 12 if the Governor has declared a disaster due
7
to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
8
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
9
(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-743, eff. 8-2-24;
10
104-387, eff. 8-15-25; 104-391, eff. 8-15-25; revised
11
9-24-25.)

Footer

Disclaimer

This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the
Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706.

Contact ILGA Webmaster

ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies.
Read About Cookies

ILGA.GOV

2026 ILGA.gov | All Rights Reserved |
ADA

|
Disclaimers
|
Learn

This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the
Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706.
Contact ILGA Webmaster

ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies.
Read About Cookies

ILGA.GOV

2026 ILGA.gov | All Rights Reserved |
ADA

|
Disclaimers
|
Learn