[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 26, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8416-S8418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Cochran):
  S. 1699. A bill to amend the provisions of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding school library media 
specialists, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am joined by Mr. Cochran in 
introducing important legislation, the Strengthening Kids' Interest in 
Learning and Libraries, SKILLs, Act, to support our Nation's school 
libraries and librarians. This legislation is also being introduced in 
the House of Representatives by Representative Grijalva and 
Representative Ehlers.
  The SKILLs Act enhances the value of school libraries by 
reauthorizing and strengthening the Improving Literacy through School 
Libraries program of the No Child Left Behind Act. The Department of 
Education found that the Improving Literacy through School Libraries 
program is successful in improving the quality of school libraries 
receiving grants and school libraries are a critical component in 
improving student literacy skills and academic achievement by giving 
students access to up-to-date library materials, including well-
equipped and technologically advanced school library media centers.
  The SKILLs Act seeks to build on this success in several ways. It 
ensures that funds serve elementary, middle, and high school students. 
It encourages the hiring of highly qualified school library media 
specialists in our Nation's

[[Page S8417]]

school libraries. Additionally, it expands professional development to 
include information literacy instruction appropriate for all grade 
levels, an assessment of student literacy needs, the coordination of 
reading and writing instruction across content areas, and training in 
literacy strategies.
  Today's librarians do so much more than catalogue collections and 
check out books, they are educators in every sense of the word.
  They provide tech support, guidance, and social services to patrons 
in need. They help teach our children how to safely and effectively 
navigate electronic media like the Internet and help instill a love of 
learning and reading in young students. In short, school libraries and 
librarians play an essential role in helping students get the skills 
they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive world and this 
legislation provide the necessary support for that endeavor.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1699

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Kids' Interest 
     in Learning and Libraries Act'' or the ``SKILLs Act''.

         TITLE I--SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST REQUIREMENTS

     SEC. 101. 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''.

     SEC. 102. STATE PLANS.

       Section 1111(b)(8) of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(8)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); 
     and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
       ``(E) 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''.

     SEC. 103. 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.

     SEC. 104. 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,''.

     SEC. 105. 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,''.

     SEC. 106. QUALIFICATIONS FOR TEACHERS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND 
                   SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 1119 of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6319) is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``TEACHERS AND 
     PARAPROFESSIONALS'' and inserting ``TEACHERS, 
     PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS'';
       (2) by redesignating subsections (h) through (l) as 
     subsections (i) through (m), respectively;
       (3) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
       ``(h) School Library Media Specialists.--
       ``(1) 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.
       ``(2) State goal.--Each State educational agency receiving 
     assistance under this part shall--
       ``(A) 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
       ``(B) 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
       (4) in subsection (i) (as redesignated by subsection 
     (a)(2)), by striking ``and paraprofessionals'' and inserting 
     ``, paraprofessionals, and school library and media 
     specialists''.
       (b) 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)''.

     SEC. 107. IMPROVING LITERACY THROUGH SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

       Section 1251 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6383) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``well-trained, 
     professionally certified'' and inserting ``highly 
     qualified'';
       (2) in subsection (e)(3)--
       (A) by striking ``Distribution.--The'' and inserting the 
     following: ``Distribution.--
       ``(A) Geographic distribution.--The''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) 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.'';
       (3) in subsection (f)(2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)--
       (i) by inserting ``the need for student literacy 
     improvement at all grade levels,'' before ``the need for''; 
     and
       (ii) by striking ``well-trained, professionally certified'' 
     and inserting ``highly qualified'';
       (4) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(B) a needs assessment of which grade spans are served, 
     ensuring funding is proportionally distributed to serve 
     students in elementary, middle, and high schools;'';
       (5) in subsection (g)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking the semicolon at the end 
     and inserting ``and reading materials, such as books and 
     materials that--
       ``(A) 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
       ``(B) engage the interest of readers at all reading 
     levels;''; and
       (B) 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''.

 TITLE II--PREPARING, TEACHING, AND RECRUITING HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS, 
            SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS, AND PRINCIPALS

     SEC. 201. 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--
       (1) in the title heading, by striking ``HIGH QUALITY 
     TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS'' and inserting ``HIGH QUALITY 
     TEACHERS, SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS, AND PRINCIPALS 
     ''; and
       (2) in the part heading, by striking ``TEACHER AND 
     PRINCIPAL'' and inserting ``TEACHER, SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA 
     SPECIALIST, AND PRINCIPAL''.

     SEC. 202. 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:
       ``(1) increase student academic achievement through 
     strategies such as--
       ``(A) improving teacher, school library media specialist, 
     and principal quality; and
       ``(B) 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''.

     SEC. 203. STATE APPLICATIONS.

       Section 2112(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6612(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, school library media 
     specialists,'' before ``and principals''; and
       (2) in paragraph (10), by inserting ``, school library 
     media specialist,'' before ``and paraprofessional''.

     SEC. 204. STATE USE OF FUNDS.

       Section 2113(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6613(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``highly qualified school library media specialists,'' before 
     ``principals''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, highly qualified 
     school library media specialists,'' before ``and 
     principals''; and
       (2) in paragraph (6), by striking ``teachers and 
     principals'' each place the term appears and inserting 
     ``teachers, school library media specialists, and 
     principals''.

     SEC. 205. 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:
       ``(9)(A) Developing and implementing strategies to assist 
     in recruiting and retaining highly qualified school library 
     media specialists; and
       ``(B) 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.''.

[[Page S8418]]

                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

     SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 9101(23) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(23)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B)(ii)(II), by striking ``and'' after 
     the semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (C)(ii)(VII), by striking the period at 
     the end and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) 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--
       ``(i) holds at least a bachelor's degree;
       ``(ii) 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
       ``(iii) has not had certification or licensure requirements 
     waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis.''.

     SEC. 302. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

       (a) 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--
       (1) by striking the item relating to section 1119 and 
     inserting the following:

``Sec. 1119. Qualifications for teachers, paraprofessionals, and school 
              library media specialists.'';
       (2) 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''; and

       (3) 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''.

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