SCHAUMBURG, IL – Today, the Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill 3070, legislation that would allow high school students to take Career Technical Education (CTE) classes as an alternative to the 2-year foreign language mandate starting in 2028. The bill is expected on the Senate floor later this week.
Starting with the 2028-29 school year, all high school students in Illinois will be required to take 2 years of foreign language classes in order to graduate. SB 3070 would allow CTE classes such as advanced manufacturing, CNC machining and much more to qualify under the foreign language mandate.
TMA has worked closely with the bill’s chief co-sponsors, Senators Willie Preston (D-Chicago) and Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood), and this is a big step forward in allowing high school students who are passionate about their career and technical education to pursue their dreams without being mandated out of them.
“Expanding career and technical education gives Illinois students a direct route to stable, rewarding careers. This legislation connects classroom learning with real-world industry demands, delivering the skilled talent our local manufacturers need to grow, and we’re glad bipartisan legislators in the Education Committee recognize that,” said TMA Executive Vice President Dennis LaComb. “By recognizing CTE courses as part of a well-rounded education, we’re opening doors for students with different strengths and ambitions—not just those planning a traditional college path.”
As SB 3070 heads for a full Senate vote, TMA is calling on both parties to support this legislation because Illinois manufacturers depend on a pipeline of capable, motivated graduates, and this bill strengthens both our workforce and our communities.
About TMA: Founded in 1925, TMA is an independent trade association whose mission is to partner with small and midsize manufacturers to help protect, promote, and grow their businesses through practical products, programs, services, and solutions. TMA has nearly 900 members representing approximately 39,000 manufacturing employees and more than 27 million square feet of manufacturing plant.
