Illinois dual language education expansion heads to Senate floor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Senate Education Committee approved a plan Tuesday to expand access to dual language education programs.

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This legislation calls on the Illinois State Board of Education to adopt comprehensive guidance for school districts to establish or expand dual language education by December 15, 2026.

It also requires ISBE to establish an optional recognition pathway to recognize biliteracy for school districts to use before high school by Jul 1, 2027. The change would include milestones for bilingual students in prekindergarten, fifth grade, and eighth grade to encourage early language development.

"These provisions stem from recommendations from the Illinois Advisory Council on Bilingual Education report," said Sen. Graciela Guzmán. "Most notably are the no cost recommendations that would allow us to build up dual lingual language in our state in a critical way."

This plan would also require ISBE's Equity Journey Continuum to integrate dual language education into the broader framework of student learning to ensure it is considered an essential part of educational equity and excellence by July 1, 2029. The Equity Journey Continuum could include provisions for dual language teachers, focusing on recruitment, professional development, and retention of bilingual educators as well.

Guzmán said dual language is key to equity and excellence for all Illinois students.

House Bill 3026 passed out of the Senate Education Committee on a 12-1 vote and now moves to the Senate floor. The measure previously passed out of the House on a partisan 77-35 vote.