Teachers, students and language advocates urge State Board to retain world language graduation requirement

At a July 24 rulemaking hearing of the Tennessee State Board of Education, educators, students and language advocates spoke in opposition to removing the two-credit world language requirement from high school graduation requirements and urged the board to preserve the requirement.

Rachel Soupey, General Counsel for the State Board of Education and the board's designated representative, opened the hearing and reviewed proposed rule revisions, noting that "this item does not propose any changes to the world language graduation requirements." She also explained the public-comment process and deadlines for written submissions.

Why it matters: World language educators and students told the board they consider a two-credit requirement essential for college readiness, workforce competitiveness and long-term cognitive benefits. Speakers said the policy opens opportunities they otherwise would not have had and warned that removing the requirement could deepen disparities between districts.

Gibson Keith, Advocacy Committee Chair of the Tennessee World Language Teachers…