I'm unsure how to take this. Foreign language skills in the US are dismal compared to just about any other country in the world. Usually by 7th grade most non english speaking europeans can at least communicate in English, whereas in the US (according to the article), foreign languages don't begin until after 7th grade. And the world is only getting more globalized, so the importance of being able to communicate in a foreign language is just as important as ever. That said, I agree that these skills should be attained much earlier, that's how it is in Germany, Poland, and the few other countries I have experience with. In high school you learn foreign langs, maths, the core skills, and once you're 18 you major in whatever and take only classes that relate to that subject.

All that being said, I'm a software developer and, in my opinion, the skills for programming are largely completely unrelated to those of communicating yourself in a foreign language. When you speak a foreign language, you have to convey abstract and complex thoughts in a matter of milliseconds, also comprehending what is being said, metaphors, slang, slurs, etc. In programming you're also in an abstract realm but you're dealing with numbers, functions, and non-verbal/acoustic information processing... So I don't think Programming should satisfy a College Language requirement, just teach the kids earlier, and do away with all non-relavent "requirements" once they go to college and major.

that's my 2 cents :)