Foreign Language Enrollment in United States

The current study is limited to an analysis of foreign/world language enrollments in the formal education system (K-16). Limits of time and resources have made it impossible to survey existing networks of heritage, community-based, afterschool and weekend-and summer school programs, which provide significant amounts of training and cultural education for languages such as Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, and Russian. As reported by states, foreign language enrollments account for approximately 20% of the total school age population. The study also finds that a total of 11 states have foreign language graduation requirements; 16 states do not have foreign language graduation requirements; and 24 states have graduation requirements that may be fulfilled by a number of subjects—one of which is foreign languages.

American Councils for International Education (2017). The national K-12 foreign language enrollment survey report: A comprehensive study of foreign/world language enrollments across the formal U.S. education system, K-12. United States: The Language Flagship at the Defense Language and National Security Education Office.

https://www.americancouncils.org/sites/default/files/FLE-report-June17.pdf