This collection of papers makes the case for early and sustained foreign language education as part of the core K-12 curriculum, and for training teachers prepared to create such an education for their students. "Early Language Learning: A National Necessity" (Christine L. Brown), discusses the importance of early language learning, resources for successful K-12 programs, and curriculum and assessment practices. "New Directions: K-12 Foreign Language Teacher Preparation" (Eileen W. Glisan), explores the current status of foreign language teacher education and the impact that new standards projects for teacher preparation may have on the profession. "Language, National Security, and the Nation's Schools" (Richard D. Brecht and William P. Rivers) examines the nation's inadequate preparation in foreign languages, suggesting that it poses grave risks to national security and noting that the K-12 sector could begin to remedy the situation, ultimately garnering public support on behalf of a broader interactional education. "The Current State of Classics in Schools" (Scot Hicks) considers reasons for continuing to teach the classic languages in elementary and secondary school and suggests the importance of preserving the opportunity to pursue excellence that these studies encourage. (Individual papers contain references.) (SM)