1.This Act may be cited as
the Strengthening Kids' Interest in
Learning and Libraries Act
or the SKILLS
Act
.
2.Except as otherwise expressly provided,
wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall
be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).
<enum>I</enum><header>Improving
education through school libraries</header>
<section id="ID3be1484b1c1544ee840b68a77ee2daa5"><enum>101.</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
1002(b)(4) (20 U.S.C. 6302(b)(4)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAE6B09E5B901468B87CE3E0C12C97364" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDe3cae39fe93a4b4b8e151e1afa66ff42"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Improving
literacy through school libraries</header><text>For the purpose of carrying out
subpart 4 of part B, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2012 and for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal
years.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="ID19474e8571c04cb6b6bd4c1a732e0bc0"><enum>102.</enum><header>State
plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1111(b)(8) (20
U.S.C. 6311(b)(8)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idDFA60B106ECC415F8922F69A4F8717B8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>or include</quote> after
<quote>describe</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC1E7A0D4BD8549C380CC4C48976E00D4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(D), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD6240C6C7DE94DA49F232965F56CA5AF"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraph (E) as
subparagraph (F); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idBC809CF06F704EC484639F0A66E985AD"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting
after subparagraph (D) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id97127E3E8F1E4A048120FF3D8B7B4E3D" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="IDb49cb38c4bd44c67a71884fe6f93b244"><enum>(E)</enum><text>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 State;
and</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="IDb2e0741b01b9416b827e0c9c09534e4c"><enum>103.</enum><header>Local
educational agency plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1112(c)(1) (20 U.S.C. 6312(c)(1)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idB07D60FE206E4D3D97FB08A03E97F6CB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(N), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id20912B3A7BDA4ED99E2638D1858695C4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(O), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id08FE784F62A14C60872E4E8B35D2DF2B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id41701037091E473BBC6886FFD3E4BCA0" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="ID0e5233ba41a1455289f3e490ae54eed2"><enum>(P)</enum><text>assist each
school served by the agency and assisted under this part in developing
effective school library programs consistent with section
1111(b)(8)(E).</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID9223ea7d87744e4da22434a91bf186d6"><enum>104.</enum><header>Schoolwide
programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1114(b)(1)(D)
(20 U.S.C. 6314(b)(1)(D)) is amended by inserting <quote>school
librarians,</quote> after <quote>teachers,</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="ID3e834fd0d89a403fae2db7870e216b63"><enum>105.</enum><header>Targeted
assistance programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
1115(c)(1)(F) (20 U.S.C. 6315(c)(1)(F)) is amended by inserting <quote>school
librarians,</quote> after <quote>teachers,</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="ID299049c0b0964c6aa3018c579ba22b6b"><enum>106.</enum><header>Improving
literacy and college and career readiness through effective school library
programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subpart 4 of part B
of title I (20 U.S.C. 6383) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD5EA1939B16147888EA860B1228A5FB7" style="OLC">
<subpart id="idD66BA6E2B3E24AC2887E6CEED016E3E6"><enum>4<?LEXA-Enum 4?></enum><header>Improving literacy and college and career readiness
through effective school library programs</header>
<section id="id7EBC91583DE54E95BA7605F58525D10D"><enum>1251.</enum><header>Improving
literacy and college and career readiness through effective school library
programs</header>
<subsection id="IDd9958d8fea4f4ff089a6ee88aa0a99ab"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The
purpose of this subpart is to improve students' literacy skills and readiness
for higher education and careers, by providing students with effective school
library programs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID4ee71879c7934803856746ac2654ca4e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definition of
eligible entity</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible
entity</term> means—</text>
<paragraph id="idC8B2377EB6F64553946C9A000F039CE5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a local
educational agency in which 20 percent of the students served by the local
educational agency are from families with incomes below the poverty line;
or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC033DC24BDA84B709F98A8064C968EAD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a consortia of
such local educational agencies.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID752ad2953d2f4a23aa57f6da504123ce"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reservation</header><text>From
the funds appropriated under section 1002(b)(4) for a fiscal year, the
Secretary shall reserve—</text>
<paragraph id="ID4656bc8d198a4d5c845088b358143238"><enum>(1)</enum><text>one-half of 1
percent to award assistance under this section to the Bureau of Indian
Education to carry out activities consistent with the purpose of this subpart;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID598574e6a2fd491d849121c2ec90729a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>one-half of 1
percent to award assistance under this section to the outlying areas according
to their respective needs for assistance under this subpart.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID4314a00467c243b3829b91245f22b8af"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Grants to local
educational agencies</header>
<paragraph id="ID9a43b43e146b420e94637e01f921124a"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>From amounts appropriated under section 1002(b)(4) and
not reserved under subsection (c), the Secretary shall award grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable such entities to carry out
the authorized activities described in subsection (e).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDe132a929c6e74a4e9e670258736da21a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Sufficient size
and scope</header><text>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 provided.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8e7cfab91be846dc81c379cf6584af45"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Distribution</header><text>The
Secretary shall ensure that grants under this section are equitably distributed
among the different geographic regions of the United States, and among eligible
entities serving urban and rural areas.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDc1f4b157018d47e0b329e77c5db7eac6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>The
Secretary shall award grants under this section for a period of 3 years.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDe103faa0a29b487ebb9f3fb1042feec3"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Local
applications</header><text>An eligible entity desiring to receive a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such
application shall include, for each school that the eligible entity identifies
as participating in a grant program under this section, the following
information:</text>
<subparagraph id="ID743f40695c8a46eb9f4376079f898bab"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a needs
assessment relating to the need for literacy improvement at all grade levels
and the need for effective school library programs, based on the age and
condition of school library resources, including—</text>
<clause id="id25CDB0F4817E46DE88515D778957AA96"><enum>(i)</enum><text>book
collections;</text>
</clause><clause id="id488BACACB79D4BA7B4B875F9FDE484FD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>access to
advanced technology;</text>
</clause><clause id="idFFCFC8E1CDD1416B8D929D3B6D3D814D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the
availability of well-trained, State certified or licensed school librarians;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="id97A56BBF9A9E4054AC0720917CDB6770"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the current
level of coordination and shared planning time among school librarians and
classroom teachers;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDf1ee1c64e8964cad8318457d57b1e107"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a description of
which grade spans will be served, and an assurance that funding will be
distributed to serve students in elementary, middle, and high schools;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID4e79d4db706c415086fdbce879027516"><enum>(C)</enum><text>how the eligible
entity will extensively involve school librarians, teachers, administrators,
and parents in the activities assisted under this section, and the manner in
which the eligible entity will carry out the activities described in subsection
(e) using programs and materials that are grounded in scientifically valid
research;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDcd401e7af463401ca0bdd7bd469044d6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the manner in
which the eligible entity will effectively coordinate the funds and activities
provided under this section with Federal, State, and local funds and activities
under this subpart and other literacy, library, technology, and professional
development funds and activities, including those funded through the Institute
of Museum and Library Services; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID945189e8e8b943d1900639593e5b261e"><enum>(E)</enum><text>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 entity.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDfb41753bf72c4b0ca47b6d9324fbe6e2"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Local
activities</header><text>Funds under this section may be used to develop and
enhance effective school library programs, which may include activities
to—</text>
<paragraph id="ID4f27f8295e6a4c31944224d01ed2c6d6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>acquire
up-to-date school library resources, including books and reading materials
that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID720e03fe9eb94078b5979a127885323d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5877bb1b04d346a2b66dacd6e2f6009c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>engage the
interest of readers at all reading levels;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID2f397503f0c940ee93dac27aaf96cb83"><enum>(2)</enum><text>acquire and use
advanced technology, incorporated into the curricula of the school, to develop
and enhance the digital literacy skills of students;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDa7c3e8065d84409487ba5d2d432387da"><enum>(3)</enum><text>facilitate
Internet links and other resource-sharing networks among schools and school
libraries, and public and academic libraries, where possible;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDb497e89350854e308cfae2b5adc47c4d"><enum>(4)</enum><text>provide—</text>
<subparagraph id="idB40C087511514D379631A444761BD1D7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>professional
development in the acquisition of digital literacy skills and 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
for school librarians; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4101D114B97F4D5195C77DAB673D7128"><enum>(B)</enum><text>activities that
foster increased collaboration among school librarians, teachers, and
administrators; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDe78e85cd0ae64110823cfba70737a5fc"><enum>(5)</enum><text>provide students
with access to school libraries during nonschool hours, including the hours
before and after school, during weekends, and during summer vacation
periods.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDaa6baaac1ef64598920691ac72eaddaf"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Supplement not
supplant</header><text>Funds made available under this section shall be used to
supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds expended to
carry out activities relating to library, technology, or professional
development activities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID8fe90851137c4ca3b14c80b3fa1130e7"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Accountability
and reporting</header><text>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 of,
the access to, and the use of, up-to-date school library resources in the
elementary schools and secondary schools served by the eligible entity was
increased.</text>
</subsection></section></subpart><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>II</enum><header>Preparing,
training, and recruiting highly effective teachers, school librarians, and
principals</header>
<section id="ID8aebe7a1df9d4146bc69ddc788ee995c"><enum>201.</enum><header>Teacher,
school librarian, and principal training and recruiting fund</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Title II (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="IDebb8318109b646e3bf025da86841be77"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the title
heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="title" style="OLC">High
quality teachers and principals</header-in-text></quote> and inserting
<quote><header-in-text level="title" style="OLC">Highly effective teachers,
school librarians, and principals</header-in-text></quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDedbd12e93a664c8e9571daba7f79e6e9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the part
heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="part" style="OLC">Teacher
and principal</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="part" style="OLC">Teacher, school librarian, and
principal</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="IDebeb45c4359747d6a0fbab550ac0380c"><enum>202.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2101(1) (20 U.S.C. 6601(1)) is
amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEF54B7299AD0438DA7EA9C627549C801" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDf46726a9df154b47b553557493dd0e2e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>increase student
achievement through strategies such as—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDc0154de4be2848f087a0fede7a6efb1c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>improving
teacher, school librarian, and principal quality; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDd7dfc2f18faf4ad294ea36dba68a3b1c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>increasing the
number of highly effective teachers in the classroom, highly effective school
librarians in the library, and highly effective principals and assistant
principals in the school; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="IDd775b20f70754c5e8c5947b5ccae1a3b"><enum>203.</enum><header>State
applications</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
2112(b)(4) (20 U.S.C. 6612(b)(4)) is amended by inserting <quote>, school
librarians,</quote> before <quote>and principals</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="ID2e1ec9f9857a4d28b0cdffc45a0c7a69"><enum>204.</enum><header>State use of
funds</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2113(c) (20
U.S.C. 6613(c)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID1a4406ea2bdd487984398b3ade8e6a4d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph
(4)—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID2990438dc767436ab029e90c11d89333"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>principals,</quote> and
inserting <quote>highly effective school librarians, and highly qualified
principals and</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDf37b67e14ad349f4bf147f97b58fb9e6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(B), by striking <quote>, principals,</quote> and inserting <quote>, highly
effective school librarians, and highly qualified principals</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDef39f87f19c44647b93e51a2e87af499"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (6),
by striking <quote>teachers and principals</quote> each place the term appears
and inserting <quote>teachers, school librarians, and
principals</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="IDe4752f9973704339b8354242706c8a82"><enum>205.</enum><header>Local use of
funds</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2123(a) (20
U.S.C. 6623(a)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (8) the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id51D8813B1F3B406BAD7FCF1191F2F70D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID4d6a7d74d04c4e16b087fe54c9b9d998"><enum>(9)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idB33FB9914BEA408886933A9EBDFFC5EC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Developing and
implementing strategies to assist in recruiting and retaining highly effective
school librarians; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID94a0d8e042794f128156c9ab64d39300" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>providing appropriate professional
development for school librarians, particularly related to skills necessary to
assist students to improve the students' academic achievement, including
digital literacy skills and preparation for higher education and
careers.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>III</enum><header>General
provisions</header>
<section id="ID48acdff367bd48c4b99b765a788b3508"><enum>301.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 9101 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id58A19BC335C84D3B84B126864375940A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraphs (16), (17), and (18) through (43) as paragraphs (17), (18), and (20)
through (45), respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idCED34E8E494942009F07DDE371116844"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
after paragraph (15) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDF01D310E244484192617FB0B890F9D7" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDc23eee22904e491ca0464aac4aca8d57"><enum>(15)</enum><header>Digital
literacy skills</header><text>The term <term>digital literacy skills</term> has
the meaning given the term in section 202 of the Museum and Library Services
Act.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id14D90EC8A1C94E089C63C290392E3440"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
after paragraph (18) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCA6A0793AFF84BA9AF53DCAA391E8137" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDe27695e72e554aa5a52f73eab23a8974"><enum>(19)</enum><header>Effective
school library program</header><text>The term <term>effective school library
program</term> means a school library program that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID96a2207ba0394ec29d4963fe79163a7f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is staffed by a
State certified or licensed school librarian;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDec8cfa89ecbb4355924d2973a14dde34"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has up-to-date
books, materials, equipment, and technology (including broadband);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDb4e7523866a846f68de95c59e67741d9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>includes regular
collaboration between classroom teachers and school librarians to assist with
development and implementation of the curriculum and other school reform
efforts; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID923ff2abb4b9402a83f2a0daa264175b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>supports the
development of digital literacy
skills.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID5cd73c058af84847a06d632fb161a823"><enum>302.</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<subsection id="ID551097312cf94b98a07c1e28a5c83ace"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Table of
contents</header><text>The table of contents in section 2 of the Act is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id953DF5A81BA14A8EB6B6DC7ADB9D78C9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking the
items relating to subpart 4 of part B of title I and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ida468369a-efc4-4020-8f33-03380abf767a" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry idref="idD66BA6E2B3E24AC2887E6CEED016E3E6" level="subpart">SUBPART 4—Improving literacy and college and career readiness
through effective school library programs</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="id7EBC91583DE54E95BA7605F58525D10D" level="section">Sec. 1251. Improving literacy and college and career readiness
through effective school library
programs.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6d67381b00a04cfbbb303e5b63fb9576"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
item relating to title II and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="idcc9cc960-9a79-4c22-b79a-02d9f4e03f0c" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry level="title">TITLE II—Preparing, training, and recruiting
highly effective teachers, school librarians, and
principals</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>;
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
<continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">and</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="IDf2964a9866c1436e8b7a3ac9aa80ccf7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking the
item relating to part A of title II and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCF564479B9C14C30BE2A6FFC7EA328EA" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="part">PART A—Teacher, School Librarian,
and Principal Training and Recruiting
Fund.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section>