The Case for Arabic Language Education in American Schools

When I agreed to consult with the Embassy of Qatar on educational initiatives, criticism was expected. However, the spread of false claims was surprising. Qatar has a significant yet complex influence in the Middle East. My experience as a former secretary of Education provided an opportunity to clarify aspects of its activities, particularly those connected to U.S. education.

Controversy arose when a Qatari-supported program was depicted as an attempt to ‘infiltrate’ American schools. Organizations criticized Qatar Foundation International, which offered grants to support Arabic language programs in U.S. schools. The reality is that America requires more language education, not a reduction. Evaluations should focus on factual information.

Under the Qatar Foundation International initiative, American schools maintained control over their curricula. The funding process was open, providing students a novel chance to learn Arabic—nothing beyond education. An incident at P.S. 261 in Brooklyn, where a map labeled Israel as Palestine, fueled criticism. Although Qatar Foundation International supported the school’s Arabic program, the teacher, using personal funds during a Jerusalem visit, acquired the map. New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks affirmed this fact in congressional testimony.

New Haven, Connecticut, also faced scrutiny where Qatar Foundation International has backed Arabic instruction since 2018. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies criticized such grants as potential security threats. Mayor Justin Elicker and Superintendent Madeline Negrón refuted these claims, asserting their investigation proved students were ‘purely learning Arabic.’

In June, Qatar Foundation International ceased operations in the U.S. after 17 years of aiding Arabic language education. Schools reliant on its support must now find alternative funding. Celebrating this development, some critics see it as a victory, including an official from the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, though this reaction misses the mark. Language skills are vital for economic competitiveness, national security, and global interaction, as emphasized by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ bipartisan Commission on Language Learning.

“Every child should have the chance to learn a non-English language,” the commission stated. Collaborations among schools, governments, philanthropies, businesses, and communities can facilitate this.

Arabic, widely spoken globally, plays a crucial role in U.S. diplomacy, security, and commerce. Other nations, like Germany, Spain, Italy, and Japan, support language programs in American schools without criticism of infiltration. These initiatives are recognized for enhancing educational resources. Qatar Foundation International’s grants aimed to do the same by providing material to teach Arabic effectively.

Transparency in funding Arabic language studies is essential, with schools retaining curricular control and parents informed about the educational content. Political or religious indoctrination has no place in public school language education.

My experience includes resigning from the Middle East Media Research Institute, once appreciated for increasing transparency in Middle Eastern discourse through translation and publication. The institute, in my view, shifted toward ideological advocacy, impacting its coverage of Qatar and fueling conspiracies.

Arabic, like German, Spanish, Italian or Japanese, should not face discrimination based on modern politics. Rather, granting children the chance to broaden their worldview and language proficiency strengthens America’s global standing. Local governance and transparency are key, but expanding language education remains the ultimate priority.

William J. Bennett is a former secretary of Education. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.