[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED:
  S. 1307. A bill to ensure that students in schools have a right to 
read, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Madam 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 show 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 higher 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.
  While school libraries are most effective when they offer resources 
that resonate, engage, and empower students and that align with their 
First Amendment rights, a recent PEN America report found that 182 
school districts across 37 States are facing bans on books that 
disproportionately limit access to titles with LGBTQ+ characters and 
characters of color. Last month, the American Library Association 
reported a record number of attempted book bans in 2022, nearly 
doubling the 2021 total.
  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. Importantly, 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. We are 
also pleased to have the support of the American Federation of 
Teachers, the National Education Association, the National Council of 
Teachers of English, and PEN America. 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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