SCR 129, as introduced, Leyva. School Librarians Month.
This bill would proclaim the month of April 2016 as School Librarians Month and would acknowledge the excellent work being done by credentialed teacher librarians and school library staff in all of California’s schools from primary grades to universities.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, With skills such as reading, writing, researching,
2critical thinking, and information literacy more important than
3ever to individual opportunity and global economic
4competitiveness, it is critical that California’s students are exposed
5to these 21st century learning skills through trained librarians at
6their school libraries; and
7WHEREAS, Information literacy is the ability to identify an
8information need, as well as locate, evaluate, and use information
9effectively and ethically; and
10WHEREAS, Because information literacy, digital literacy, and
11digital citizenship are mandated elements of public education, it
12is critical that school districts provide quality school libraries
13staffed with trained librarians to help students excel in these areas;
14and
15WHEREAS, The lack of a quality school library negatively
16affects all students but has the most significant impact on
P2 1socioeconomically disadvantaged students, English learners, and
2foster youth; and
3WHEREAS, These negative impacts are exacerbated by the
4lack of equitable access to school libraries and trained librarians
5at schools with large percentages of socioeconomically
6disadvantaged students, English learners, and foster youth; and
7WHEREAS, Research indicates that schools with a quality
8school library staffed by credentialed teacher librarians outperform
9those without such programs, regardless of the school community’s
10parent education levels, poverty levels, ethnicity, or percentage of
11English learners; and
12WHEREAS, Based on data from the State Department of
13Education, California ranks last in the nation in the number of
14credentialed teacher librarians with a ratio of 7,187 students to one
15teacher librarian; and
16WHEREAS, School libraries provide a safe haven on campus
17for students during or after school, and it is vital that all students
18have the opportunity to discover and learn about issues and subjects
19that capture their interest; and
20WHEREAS, Whereas the presence of a credentialed teacher
21librarian is integral to helping students find and pursue their
22passions through research materials and books that spark their
23interest; now, therefore, be it
24Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
25thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the month of
26April 2016 as School Librarians Month and acknowledges the
27excellent work being done by credentialed teacher librarians and
28school library staff in all of California’s schools from primary
29grades to universities; and be it further
30Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
31this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
O
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