FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Margaret Wicker McPhillips
June 26 , 2007	(202)224-6414

WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to boost student achievement and improve public school libraries, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) today joined with scores of librarians from around the country to unveil the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act.  The SKILLs Act reauthorizes and strengthens the Improving Literacy through School Libraries program of the No Child Left Behind Act.  This legislation will help ensure that more schools have highly qualified librarians and the resources they need to help students harness new technologies to find information. 

“We know that school libraries are a critical component in improving student literacy skills and academic achievement.   This legislation recognizes what makes this success possible: highly-trained librarians,” said Senator Reed.  “As technology rapidly changes the way our children learn, it is imperative that we have experienced librarians who can help kids harness these new technologies and access the information they need.  The SKILLs Act underscores the value of school libraries by encouraging the hiring of highly-qualified school library media specialists in our nation’s school libraries.”

Senator Cochran said: “School librarians play an important role in the lives of students of all ages.  The ability to foster confidence in a student to research a topic about which he or she wants to learn is a unique gift.  A child who understands and is comfortable with information technology is a child who will grow up with the ability to learn throughout his or her lifetime.  The SKILLs Act will provide federal support and incentives to strengthen our school libraries, which I hope will improve education in America.”

The No Child Left Behind Act requires a “highly qualified” teacher in every core academic classroom, but since librarians currently don’t qualify as “highly qualified” teachers, school districts facing budget cuts sometimes replace them with less expensive paraprofessionals.  The SKILLs Act will require that all K–12 public schools have a state-certified media specialist.

In 2005 the Department of Education found that the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program was successful in improving the quality of school libraries receiving grants.

“Today’s librarians do so much more than catalogue collections and check out books, they are educators in every sense of the word,” noted Reed.  “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 will help provide the necessary support in that endeavor. 

The SKILLS Act will also help ensure that federal funding serves more elementary, middle, and high school students; and expand 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.

Summary: Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act

Reauthorizes and Strengthens the Improving Literacy through School Library program of the No Child Left Behind Act

• Ensures that funds will serve elementary, middle, and high school students;
• 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; and
• 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 in all content areas.

Elevates the Qualifications of School Library Media Specialists

• Defines highly qualified school library media specialists as those who have a bachelor’s degree and 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.

Encourages the Hiring of Highly Qualified School Library Media Specialists in Our Nation’s School Libraries

• 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; and
• 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.

Amends Title II of the No Child Left Behind Act to Include School Library Media Specialists

• Broadens the focus of training, professional development, and recruitment activities to include school library media specialists; and
• Enhances the skills, including those related to information literacy, of school library media specialists to assist students to improve their academic achievement.