,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aabg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #aj1 #bjac ,mr4 ,reed 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,cochran1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 and ,mr4 ,whitehouse7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife regarding school libraries1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,strengthening ,kids' ,interest in ,learning and ,libraries ,act or the ,,skills ,act4 #b4 ,references ,except as otherwise expressly provided1 wherever in this ,act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to1 or repeal of1 a section or other provision1 the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcja et seq474 ,i ,improving education through school libraries #aja4 ,authorization of appropriations ,section #ajjb7;b77#d7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcjb7;b77#d77 is amended to read as follows3 7#d7 ,improving literacy through school libraries ,for the purpose of carrying out subpart #d of part ,b1 there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year #bjad and for each of the #e succeeding fiscal years4 4 #ajb4 ,state plans ,section #aaaa7;b77#h7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#h77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting or include after describe2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,d71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7#c7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,e7 as subparagraph 7,f72 and 7#d7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,d7 the following3 7,e7 an assurance that the ,state educational agency will assist local educational agencies in developing effective school library programs to provide students an opportunity to develop digital literacy skills and the knowledge and skills described in the challenging academic content standards adopted by the ,state2 and 4 #ajc4 ,local educational agency plans ,section #aaab7;c77#a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcab7;c77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,n71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,o71 by striking the period and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,p7 assist each school served by the agency and assisted under this part in developing effective school library programs consistent with section #aaaa7;b77#h77;,e74 4 #ajd4 ,schoolwide programs ,section #aaad7;b77#a77;,d7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcad7;b77#a77;,d77 is amended by inserting school librarians1 after teachers14 #aje4 ,targeted assistance programs ,section #aaae7;c77#a77;,f7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcae7;c77#a77;,f77 is amended by inserting school librarians1 after teachers14 #ajf4 ,improving literacy and college and career readiness through effective school library programs ,subpart #d of part ,b of title ,i 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fchc7 is amended to read as follows3 #d ,improving literacy and college and career readiness through effective school library programs #abea4 ,improving literacy and college and career readiness through effective school library programs 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this subpart is to improve students' literacy skills and readiness for higher education and careers1 by providing students with effective school library programs4 7b7 ,definition of eligible entity ,in this section1 the term eligible entity means-- 7#a7 a local educational agency in which #bj percent of the students served by the local educational agency are from families with incomes below the poverty line2 or 7#b7 a consortia of such local educational agencies4 7c7 ,reservation ,from the funds appropriated under section #ajjb7;b77#d7 for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall reserve-- 7#a7 one-half of #a percent to award assistance under this section to the ,bureau of ,indian ,education to carry out activities consistent with the purpose of this subpart2 and 7#b7 one-half of #a percent to award assistance under this section to the outlying areas according to their respective needs for assistance under this subpart4 7d7 ,grants to local educational agencies 7#a7 ,in general ,from amounts appropriated under section #ajjb7;b77#d7 and not reserved under subsection 7c71 the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible entities to enable such entities to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection 7e74 7#b7 ,sufficient size and scope ,the ,secretary shall award grants under this section of sufficient size and scope to allow the eligible entities to carry out effective school library programs for which the grant funds are provided4 7#c7 ,distribution ,the ,secretary shall ensure that grants under this section are equitably distributed among the different geographic regions of the ,united ,states1 and among eligible entities serving urban and rural areas4 7#d7 ,duration ,the ,secretary shall award grants under this section for a period of #c years4 7#e7 ,local applications ,an eligible entity desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 ,such application shall include1 for each school that the eligible entity identifies as participating in a grant program under this section1 the following information3 7,a7 a needs assessment relating to the need for literacy improvement at all grade levels and the need for effective school library programs1 based on the age and condition of school library resources1 including-- 7i7 book collections2 7ii7 access to advanced technology2 7iii7 the availability of well-trained1 ,state certified or licensed school librarians2 and 7iv7 the current level of coordination and shared planning time among school librarians and classroom teachers2 7,b7 a description of which grade spans will be served1 and an assurance that funding will be distributed to serve students in elementary1 middle1 and high schools2 7,c7 how the eligible entity will extensively involve school librarians1 teachers1 administrators1 and parents in the activities assisted under this section1 and the manner in which the eligible entity will carry out the activities described in subsection 7e7 using programs and materials that are grounded in scientifically valid research2 7,d7 the manner in which the eligible entity will effectively coordinate the funds and activities provided under this section with ,federal1 ,state1 and local funds and activities under this subpart and other literacy1 library1 technology1 and professional development funds and activities1 including those funded through the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services2 and 7,e7 the manner in which the eligible entity will collect and analyze data on the quality and impact of activities carried out under this section by schools served by the eligible entity4 7e7 ,local activities ,funds under this section may be used to develop and enhance effective school library programs1 which may include activities to-- 7#a7 acquire up-to-date school library resources1 including books and reading materials that-- 7,a7 are appropriate for students in all grade levels to be served and for students with special learning needs1 including students who are limited ,english proficient2 and 7,b7 engage the interest of readers at all reading levels2 7#b7 acquire and use advanced technology1 incorporated into the curricula of the school1 to develop and enhance the digital literacy skills of students2 7#c7 facilitate ,internet links and other resource-sharing networks among schools and school libraries1 and public and academic libraries1 where possible2 7#d7 provide-- 7,a7 professional development in the acquisition of digital literacy skills and literacy instruction that is appropriate for all grades1 including the assessment of student literacy needs1 the coordination of reading and writing instruction across content areas1 and training in literacy strategies in all content areas for school librarians2 and 7,b7 activities that foster increased collaboration among school librarians1 teachers1 and administrators2 and 7#e7 provide students with access to school libraries during nonschool hours1 including the hours before and after school1 during weekends1 and during summer vacation periods4 7f7 ,supplement not supplant ,funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement1 and not supplant1 other ,federal1 ,state1 and local funds expended to carry out activities relating to library1 technology1 or professional development activities4 7g7 ,accountability and reporting ,each eligible entity that receives funds under this section for a fiscal year shall prepare and submit a report to the ,secretary regarding how the funding was used and the extent to which the availability of1 the access to1 and the use of1 up-to-date school library resources in the elementary schools and secondary schools served by the eligible entity was increased4 4 ,,ii ,preparing1 training1 and recruiting highly effective teachers1 school librarians1 and principals #bja4 ,teacher1 school librarian1 and principal training and recruiting fund ,title ,,ii 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffja et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 in the title heading1 by striking ,high quality teachers and principals and inserting ,highly effective teachers1 school librarians1 and principals2 and 7#b7 in the part heading for part ,a1 by striking ,teacher and principal and inserting ,teacher1 school librarian1 and principal4 #bjb4 ,purpose ,section #baja7a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffja7a77 is amended to read as follows3 7#a7 increase student achievement through strategies such as-- 7,a7 improving teacher1 school librarian1 and principal quality2 and 7,b7 increasing the number of highly effective teachers in the classroom1 highly effective school librarians in the library1 and highly effective principals and assistant principals in the school2 and 4 #bjc4 ,state applications ,section #baab7;b77#d7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffab7;b77#d77 is amended by inserting 1 school librarians1 before and principals4 #bjd4 ,state use of funds ,section #baac7;c7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffac7;c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#d7-- 7,a7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking principals1 and inserting highly effective school librarians1 and highly qualified principals and2 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking 1 principals1 and inserting 1 highly effective school librarians1 and highly qualified principals2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#f71 by striking teachers and principals each place the term appears and inserting teachers1 school librarians1 and principals4 #bje4 ,local use of funds ,section #babc7;a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffbc7;a77 is amended by inserting after paragraph 7#h7 the following3 7#i7 7,a7 ,developing and implementing strategies to assist in recruiting and retaining highly effective school librarians2 and 7,b7 providing appropriate professional development for school librarians1 particularly related to skills necessary to assist students to improve the students' academic achievement1 including digital literacy skills and preparation for higher education and careers4 4 ,,iii ,general provisions #cja4 ,definitions ,section #iaja 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#af71 7#ag71 and 7#ah7 through 7#dc7 as paragraphs 7#ag71 7#ah71 and 7#bj7 through 7#de71 respectively2 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#ae7 the following3 7#ae7 ,digital literacy skills ,the term digital literacy skills has the meaning given the term in section #bjb of the ,museum and ,library ,services ,act4 2 and 7#c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#ah7 7as redesignated by paragraph 7#a77 the following3 7#ai7 ,effective school library program ,the term effective school library program means a school library program that-- 7,a7 is staffed by a ,state certified or licensed school librarian2 7,b7 has up-to-date books1 materials1 equipment1 and technology 7including broadband72 7,c7 includes regular collaboration between classroom teachers and school librarians to assist with development and implementation of the curriculum and other school reform efforts2 and 7,d7 supports the development of digital literacy skills4 4 #cjb4 ,conforming amendments 7a7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents in section #b of the ,act is amended-- 7#a7 by striking the items relating to subpart #d of part ,b of title ,i and inserting the following3 ,subpart #d--;,improving ,literacy and ,college and ,career ,readiness through ,effective ,school ,library ,programs ,sec4 #abea4 ,improving literacy and college and career readiness through effective school library programs4 2 7#b7 by striking the item relating to title ,,ii and inserting the following3 ,,title ,,ii--,preparing1 ,training1 and ,recruiting ,highly ,effective ,teachers1 ,school ,librarians1 and ,principals 2 and 7#c7 by striking the item relating to part ,a of title ,,ii and inserting the following3 ,part ,a--,teacher1 ,school ,librarian1 and ,principal ,training and ,recruiting ,fund4 4