SKILLs Act

To amend the provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding school library media specialists, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries Act SKILLs Act I School library media specialist requirements 101. Authorization of appropriations Section 1002(b)(4) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6302 2002 2016 102. State plans (a) Academic standards, academic assessments, and accountability Section 1111(b)(8) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(8) (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking and (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 . (b) Other provisions To support teaching and learning Section 1111(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311(c) (1) in paragraph (13), by striking and (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period and inserting ; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following: (15) the State educational agency will establish a goal of having not less than 1 State-certified school library media specialist in each public school that receives funds under this part. . 103. Local educational agency plans (a) Plan provisions Section 1112(b)(1)(N) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6312(b)(1)(N) , including ensuring that there is not less than 1 highly qualified school library media specialist in each school (b) Assurances Section 1112(c)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6312(c)(1) (1) in subparagraph (N), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (O), by striking the period and inserting ; and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (O) the following: (P) ensure, to the extent feasible, that each school served by the local educational agency and receiving funds under this part employs not less than 1 State-certified school library media specialist. . 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) school library media specialists, teachers, 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) school library media specialists, teachers, 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 (1) in the section heading, by striking teachers and paraprofessionals 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 2016–2017 school year. ; and (4) in subsection (i) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)), by striking and paraprofessionals , 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) subsection (1) subsection (m) 107. Improving literacy through school libraries Section 1251 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6383 (1) in subsection (a), by striking well-trained, professionally certified highly qualified (2) in subsection (e)(3)— (A) by striking Distribution 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, the need for (ii) by striking well-trained, professionally certified 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; ; and (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) 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 II Preparing, teaching, and recruiting high quality teachers, school library media specialists, and principals 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. (1) in the title heading, by striking High quality teachers and principals High quality teachers, school library media specialists, and principals (2) in the part heading, by striking Teacher and principal Teacher, school library media specialist, and principal 202. Purpose Section 2101(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6601(1) (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 . 203. State applications Section 2112(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6612(b) (1) in paragraph (4), by inserting , school library media specialists, and principals (2) in paragraph (10), by inserting , school library media specialist, and paraprofessional 204. State use of funds Section 2113(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6613(c) (1) in paragraph (4)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting highly qualified school library media specialists, principals (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting , highly qualified school library media specialists, and principals (2) in paragraph (6), by striking teachers and principals teachers, school library media specialists, and principals 205. Local uses of funds Section 2123(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6623(a) (9) (A) Developing and implementing strategies to assist in recruiting and retaining highly qualified school library media specialists. (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. . III General Provisions 301. Definitions Section 9101(23) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801(23) (1) in subparagraph (B)(ii)(II), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (C)(ii)(VII), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; 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. . 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 (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 .

Summary: Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries Act or the SKILLs Act Amends title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for FY2016-FY2021 for the Improving Literacy through School Libraries grant program. Requires local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive school improvement funds to ensure, to the extent feasible, that each of their schools receiving such funds employs at least one state certified school library media specialist. Directs states and LEAs that receive school improvement funds to ensure that by the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year there is at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in every school that receives such funds. Requires Improving Literacy through School Libraries funds to be: (1) proportionally distributed to serve students in elementary, middle, and high schools; (2) used for media resources appropriate for all grades; and (3) used for professional development in information literacy instruction that is appropriate for all grades. Expands the program of grants to states and subgrants to LEAs for the recruitment, retention, and professional development of teachers to require that highly qualified school library media specialists be included in the focus of such efforts.