NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee State Board of Education will consider cutting the high school world language graduation requirement in half following a new proposal.
Board Chair Robert Eby suggested the idea in July. Then, he formed a study group to weigh the pros and cons of a potential change. In November, he presented his formal proposal to reduce the number of required world language credits from two to one and replace it with an additional elective credit, bringing the required elective credits from three to four.
“There are a million students in Tennessee,” Eby said. “Why shouldn’t each one of those million students be able to decide the pathway that is best for each one of them? We talk about choice. This is really about choice.”
AUG. 2025: Tennessee weighs pros, cons of cutting foreign language graduation requirement
Eby argued 26 states have no foreign language graduation requirements, and among the 24 that do, 17 at least provide more options for students…