[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED:
  S. 5064. A bill to ensure that children in schools have a right to 
read, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, literacy opens the door for lifelong 
opportunity and economic success. But in the aftermath of the COVID-19 
pandemic, we have a lot of work to do to help kids catch up. The 
National Assessment of Education Progress results show the terrible 
toll the pandemic has taken on students' literacy skills. Reading 
scores for 9-year-olds, dropped by five points, the steepest decline 
since 1990. We need urgent action to ensure that all children have the 
means and the right to read. That is why I am pleased to join 
Congressman Raul Grijalva in introducing the Right to Read Act.
  The Right to Read Act will require States and school districts to 
have policies protecting the right to read, which includes access to 
evidence-based reading instruction, access to effective school 
libraries, access to developmentally and linguistically appropriate 
materials, reading materials at home, family literacy support, and the 
freedom to choose reading materials.
  The Right to Read Act will ensure that low-income, minority children, 
English learners, and students with disabilities are not 
disproportionately enrolled in schools that lack effective school 
libraries. This is a matter of equity. Data shows that school libraries 
make a big difference in giving kids the skills and inspiration to 
become proficient and enthusiastic readers. Students who utilize school 
libraries have 73 percent higher literacy rates than students who do 
not, and the positive impact of effective school libraries is highest 
for marginalized groups, including students experiencing poverty, 
students of color, and students with disabilities. But not every 
student has access to library services. The U.S. Department of 
Education reports that 2.5 million students are enrolled in districts 
where there are no school libraries. An estimated 1 out of 10 schools 
in America does not have a school library, and 30 percent of U.S. 
public schools do not have full time librarians. Students experiencing 
the highest levels of poverty are 30 percent more likely to attend a 
school without a school library. And while school libraries are most 
effective when they offer resources that resonate, engage, and empower 
students and that align with their first amendment rights, 32 States 
have enacted bans on books that disproportionately limit access to 
titles with LGBTQ+ characters and characters of color.
  The Right to Read Act will address the disparities in access to 
school library resources. It supports the development of effective 
school libraries, including the recruitment, retention, and 
professional development of State-certified school librarians. It will 
also increase the Federal investment in literacy by reauthorizing 
Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants at $500 million and the 
Innovative Approaches to Literacy program at $100 million, targeting 
critical literacy resources in high need communities. Critically, the 
bill protects access to quality reading materials and provides the 
resources needed to create a foundation for learning and student 
success.
  In developing this legislation, Congressman Grijalva and I worked 
closely with the library community, including the American Library 
Association and the American Association of School Librarians. These 
are the experts in helping kids become lifelong readers and learners. I 
appreciate their insight and assistance on this bill, and I urge my 
colleagues to join us in cosponsoring this legislation to ensure that 
all students have a right to read.
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