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Support SKILLs, Support Learners
June 29, 2007
I am sorry I missed Tuesday's Day on the Hill at ALA Annual! Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Representatives Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) introduced the Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries Act (SKILLs).
This critical act promotes equity for learners.
All students deserve quality libraries and qualified librarians. All students deserve access to 21st century research tools.
At this moment in time, information and media fluency have never been more important. At this moment in time, literacy has never been more important. At this moment in time, students' access to these resources grows increasingly uneven.
Please contact your Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 1699. Please contact your Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 2864.
The following information comes from ALA's Issues and Advocacy Page.
The SKILLs Act:
- Requires school districts, to the extent feasible, to ensure that every school within the district employs at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in each school library;
- Defines highly qualified school library media specialists as those who have a bachelor's degree and have 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;
- Establishes as a state goal that there be at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in every public school no later than the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year;
- Broadens the focus of training, professional development, and recruitment activities to include school library media specialists;
- Ensures that funds will serve elementary, middle, and high school students; and
- Requires books and materials to be appropriate for and engage the interest of students in all grade levels and students with special learning needs, including English language learners.
See the ALA site for helpful talking points!
Posted by Joyce Valenza on June 29, 2007 | Comments (0)
