Superintendent warns proposed Illinois rule to require two years of world language would strain district staffing
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Summary
Dr. Schiffbauer told the board that a state change requiring two years of the same world language for students entering high school in 2028 would likely require several additional language teachers and could displace electives such as CTE, art and music.
Minooka Community High School District 111 administrators told the board Tuesday that a pending change in Illinois graduation requirements could substantially affect course offerings and staffing if enacted.
Dr. Schiffbauer outlined a 2028 requirement in state statute that would mandate two years of the same world language for students entering high school in the 2028–29 cohort, saying the change “brings up a number of issues,” foremost among them teacher availability. Under the district’s current offerings—Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL)—officials said complying while keeping existing course structures could require five to six additional language teachers.
“If we were just to stay with American Sign Language and Spanish…we would need anywhere between five to six additional language teachers,” Dr. Schiffbauer said, noting the law requires two consecutive years of the same language rather than mixing languages. He added that the requirement would likely force students to give up elective credits in CTE, art, music or other fields to fit the requirement into graduation schedules.
Dr. Schiffbauer and other administrators said many higher education institutions have reduced or removed two‑year language requirements, and they described the bill’s stated goal—encouraging college enrollment—as unlikely to be achieved solely by mandating language classes. He said statewide groups representing school districts and administrators were lobbying against the measure and that it appeared stalled in the Senate at the time of the board meeting.
Board members asked whether junior‑high work would count toward the requirement; Dr. Schiffbauer said currently it would not. Administrators and board members said the district will continue to monitor the bill and advocacy efforts by Illinois education associations.
The board did not take a formal position at the meeting; administrators said they will keep members updated as the legislative process develops.