It is suggested that trends in federal and state policy formation are working against the advancement of second language education in Illinois. While the passage of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act at the federal level was a positive step, legislating that foreign language be part of the core curriculum, a subsequent state policy draft excluded foreign languages from the funds and status flowing from this law. Two tentative positive steps followed, at the state level: (1) language professionals elicited assurances that the issue would be raised during the policy revision process, and (2) the state superintendent revealed that the issue had been raised. Cautious optimism is advised, based on recent positive trends in the momentum of language education within the state. Events of 1995 are chronicled and political aspects of the issue are detailed. Language teaching professionals are urged to communicate their concerns to parents as well as to state policy-makers, focusing on the exclusion of an entire area of education as an area of opportunity for students. (MSE)