Second language learning activates the brain and makes other skills stronger. Don't make the assessment seat-time based. Should not be mandated. Should be a local decision, but should have more language and culture education. Infuse foreign language into English and contemporary world problems classes.
Language needs to be included in the entire curriculum.
Make our schools more European. Let's teach another language and give students a chance to learn a third one. Global economy requires us to do more. Our world is shrinking. Everyone needs a second language.