Currently, Latvian students learn English as their first foreign language. However, once they finish primary school, they begin learning a second foreign language. In theory, children have the option to learn French, German, or other languages as a second foreign language. Due to a shortage of teachers for other languages, Russian is the most commonly taught language in practice.

Data from the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) indicates that almost half of Latvian schools teach Russian as the second foreign language.

In the 2020/2021 school year, Russian was taught as the only second foreign language in 315 out of 685 schools. In the 2021/2022 school year, this was the case in 320 out of 668 schools. In the 2022/2023 school year, 282 out of 647 schools followed this practice.

The government-endorsed changes mandate that schools gradually introduce one of the official languages of EU or EEA Member States, or a foreign language regulated by intergovernmental agreements in the field of education, as a second foreign language for students, starting from the 2026/2027 school year. These languages do not include Russian.

In the 2027/2028 school year, the introduction of a second foreign language other than Russian will be implemented in grades 5 and 6. In the 2028/2029 school year, this will extend to grades 5, 6, and 7. In the 2029/2030 school year, it will be implemented in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8. By the 2030/2031 school year, this change will be implemented throughout the entire secondary school stage, or grades 5–9.

On the other hand, for students who have begun learning Russian or another second foreign language other than one of the official languages of the EU or the EEA, by September 1, 2025, schools will be required to ensure the continuation of that foreign language, including Russian, until the end of 9th grade.