I
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2864
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 26, 2007
Mr. Grijalva (for himself and Mr. Ehlers) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
A BILL
To amend the provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding school library media specialists, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Strengthening Kids' Interest in
Learning and Libraries Act
or the SKILLs
Act
.
School library media specialist requirements
Authorization of appropriations
Section
1002(b)(4) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6302) is amended by striking 2002
and inserting
2008
.
State plans
Section 1111(b)(8) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(8)) is amended—
in
subparagraph (D), by striking and
after the semicolon;
by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); and
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
how the State educational agency will meet the goal of ensuring that there is not less than 1 highly qualified school library media specialist in each school receiving funds under this part, as described in section 1119(h)(2); and
.
Local educational agency plans
Section 1112(b)(1)(N) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6312(b)(1)(N)) is amended by
inserting , including ensuring that there is not less than 1 highly
qualified school library media specialist in each school
before the
semicolon.
Schoolwide programs
Section 1114(b)(1)(D)
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6314(b)(1)(D))
is amended by inserting school library media specialists,
after
teachers,
.
Targeted assistance schools
Section
1115(c)(1)(F) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6315(c)(1)(F)) is amended by inserting school library media
specialists,
after teachers,
.
Qualifications for teachers, paraprofessionals, and school library media specialists
In general
Section 1119 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6319) is amended—
in the section
heading, by striking teachers and paraprofessionals
and
inserting teachers,
paraprofessionals, and school library media
specialists
;
by redesignating subsections (h) through (l) as subsections (i) through (m), respectively;
by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
School library media specialists
Local educational agency requirement
Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this part shall ensure, to the extent feasible, that each school that is served by the local educational agency and receives funds under this part employs not less than 1 highly qualified school library media specialist.
State goal
Each State educational agency receiving assistance under this part shall—
establish a goal of having not less than 1 highly qualified school library media specialist in each public school that is served by the State educational agency and receives funds under this part; and
specify a date by which the State will reach this goal, which date shall be not later than the beginning of the 2010–2011 school year.
; and
in subsection (i)
(as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)), by striking and
paraprofessionals
and inserting , paraprofessionals, and school
library and media specialists
.
Conforming amendment
Section 1119(l) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)) (20 U.S.C.
6319(l)) is amended by striking subsection (1)
and inserting
subsection (m)
.
Improving literacy through school libraries
Section 1251 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6383) is amended—
in subsection (a),
by striking well-trained, professionally certified
and inserting
highly qualified
;
in subsection (e)(3)—
by striking
Distribution.—The
and inserting the
following:
Distribution.—
Geographic distribution
The
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Balance among types of schools
In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration whether funding is proportionally distributed among projects serving students in elementary, middle, and high schools.
;
in subsection (f)(2)—
in subparagraph (A)—
by
inserting the need for student literacy improvement at all grade
levels,
before the need for
; and
by
striking well-trained, professionally certified
and inserting
highly qualified
;
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
a needs assessment of which grade spans are served, ensuring funding is proportionally distributed to serve students in elementary, middle, and high schools;
;
in subsection (g)—
in paragraph (1), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting
and reading materials, such as books and materials that—
are appropriate for students in all grade levels to be served and for students with special learning needs, including students who are limited English proficient; and
engage the interest of readers at all reading levels;
; and
in paragraph (4),
by striking professional development described in section
1222(d)(2)
and inserting professional development in information
literacy instruction that is appropriate for all grades, including the
assessment of student literacy needs, the coordination of reading and writing
instruction across content areas, and training in literacy strategies in all
content areas
.
Preparing, teaching, and recruiting high quality teachers, school library media specialists, and principals
Teacher, school library media specialist, and principal training and recruiting fund
Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended—
in the title
heading, by striking High
quality teachers and principals
and inserting
High quality teachers, school
library media specialists, and principals
; and
in the part
heading, by striking Teacher
and principal
and inserting Teacher, school library media specialist, and
principal
.
Purpose
Section 2101(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601(1)) is amended to read as follows:
increase student academic achievement through strategies such as—
improving teacher, school library media specialist, and principal quality; and
increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom, highly qualified school library media specialists in the library, and highly qualified principals and assistant principals in schools; and
.
State applications
Section 2112(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6612(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (4), by inserting ,
school library media specialists,
before and principals
;
and
in paragraph (10),
by inserting , school library media specialist,
before
and paraprofessional
.
State use of funds
Section 2113(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6613(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (4)—
in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting highly qualified school library
media specialists,
before principals
; and
in subparagraph
(B), by inserting , highly qualified school library media
specialists,
before and principals
; and
in paragraph (6), by striking
teachers and principals
each place the term appears and
inserting teachers, school library media specialists, and
principals
.
Local uses of funds
Section 2123(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6623(a)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
Developing and implementing strategies to assist in recruiting and retaining highly qualified school library media specialists; and
providing appropriate professional development for such specialists, particularly related to skills necessary to assist students to improve the students' academic achievement, including skills related to information literacy.
.
General Provisions
Definitions
Section 9101(23) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(23)) is amended—
in subparagraph
(B)(ii)(II), by striking and
after the semicolon;
in subparagraph
(C)(ii)(VII), by striking the period at the end and inserting ;
and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
when used with respect to a school library media specialist employed in an elementary school or secondary school in a State, means that the school library media specialist—
holds at least a bachelor's degree;
has obtained full State certification as a school library media specialist or passed the State teacher licensing examination, with State certification in library media, in such State, except that when used with respect to any school library media specialist teaching in a public charter school, the term means that the school library media specialist meets the requirements set forth in the State's public charter school law; and
has not had certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis.
.
Conforming amendments
Table of contents
The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 note) is amended—
by striking the item relating to section 1119 and inserting the following:
Sec. 1119. Qualifications for teachers, paraprofessionals, and school library media specialists.
;
by striking the item relating to title II and inserting the following:
Title II—Preparing, training, and recruiting high quality teachers, school library media specialists, and principals
;
by striking the item relating to part A of title II and inserting the following:
Part A—Teacher, School Library Media Specialist, and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund
.