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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, In 2006, the federal Secretaries of State,
3 Education, and Defense and the Director of National
4 Intelligence joined together to take part in an initiative to
5 dramatically increase the number of Americans learning and
6 teaching foreign languages of critical need for reasons of
7 national security and global competitiveness; and
 
8     WHEREAS, In 2008, the initiative, entitled the National
9 Security Language Initiative, designated certain languages to
10 be categorized as "Critical Need"; and
 
11     WHEREAS, The National Security Language Initiative was
12 implemented on the notion that recognizes that "speaking
13 another's language promotes understanding; conveys respect;
14 strengthens our ability to engage foreign peoples and
15 governments; and provides others with an opportunity to learn
16 more about America and its people"; and
 
17     WHEREAS, In 2008, Arabic was one of the languages
18 designated as a "Critical Need" language; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The National Security Language Initiative
20 provides for federal funding for language instruction under
21 Foreign Language Assistance Program grants; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, In 2008, federal grants have been used to aid in
2 instruction of Arabic in Illinois programs, such as grants
3 totaling $240,000 allowing for summer instruction for Chicago
4 public school students to intensify their Arabic at the
5 University of Chicago; and
 
6     WHEREAS, To date, this State still remains to be
7 startlingly under-represented among Foreign Language Assistant
8 Program grant recipients; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The State Board of Education also designates
10 funding for an Arabic Language Initiative under its Arts and
11 Foreign Language Education Grant Program; and
 
12     WHEREAS, In May 2008, Mayor Richard M. Daley announced that
13 Chicago public schools were initiating a $1,000,000 expansion
14 of the Critical Languages Program; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Concerned local communities of this State have
16 initiated a concerted effort since the creation of the National
17 Security Language Initiative to propose the introduction of
18 Arabic as a foreign language option for high school, junior
19 high, and elementary school students; and
 
20     WHEREAS, The concerted effort has included numerous signed

 

 

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1 petitions, town hall meetings, and numerous personal
2 one-on-one meetings with principals, students, teachers,
3 parents, and superintendents; and
 
4     WHEREAS, These concerned communities have continued their
5 efforts to maintain the goal of building a competitive
6 advantage for Illinois students in a changing global dynamic;
7 and
 
8     WHEREAS, A few public schools in this State have already
9 begun to offer Arabic as a foreign language, such as Lindblom
10 Math & Science Academy, Lincoln Park High School, Roosevelt
11 High School, Volta Elementary School, Durkin Park Elementary
12 School, and Peck Elementary School; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Funding options, research, and community interest
14 have shown Arabic to be a foreign language that will be a
15 welcomed option in school districts, providing competitive
16 advantage for students in this State; therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
18 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
19 CONCURRING HEREIN, that we encourage school districts in this
20 State to explore the introduction of Arabic as a foreign
21 language in their curriculum, particularly school districts
22 that have constituencies with an interest in the instruction of

 

 

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1 Arabic, through a transparent and collaborative process with
2 the community that takes full advantage of State and federal
3 funding resources; and be it further
 
4     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
5 delivered to the school districts of this State.