Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5488 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- H 5488
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT
16	16	Introduced By: Representatives Kislak, Morales, Speakman, Boylan, Fogarty, Potter,
17	17	Tanzi, J. Lombardi, and Cruz
18	18	Date Introduced: February 13, 2025
19	19	Referred To: House Education
20	20
21	21
22	22	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
23	23	SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by 1
24	24	adding thereto the following chapter: 2
25	25	CHAPTER 117 3
26	26	THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT 4
27	27	16-117-1. Short title. 5
28	28	This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "The School Libraries Act". 6
29	29	16-117-2. Statement of policy. 7
30	30	(a) The general assembly hereby declares the following to be the policy of this state: 8
31	31	(1) School libraries, with well-funded programs, are essential to schools as research 9
32	32	consistently shows that students become better readers and read more when they are provided with 10
33	33	a wide variety of reading materials from which they can select to read. School librarians are trained 11
34	34	experts and are highly qualified to provide dynamic book collections meeting all reading levels and 12
35	35	spanning a variety of interests that allow students to choose their reading materials. School libraries 13
36	36	and school librarians foster a love of reading and a love of learning that enables students to become 14
37	37	life-long learners. 15
38	38	(2) School libraries and school librarians are essential in the instruction of information 16
39	39	literacy and media literacy in the age of limitless information sources, social media, misinformation 17
40	40	and disinformation. School librarians teach students to identify, evaluate and use information in 18
41	41	order to become competent researchers and ethical consumers and users of information. 19
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45	45	(3) In order to be college and career ready in the twenty first century, students shall have 1
46	46	access to and be able to use information resources including books, digital media, web resources, 2
47	47	databases, and technology vetted by school librarians. Library programs provide equitable 3
48	48	opportunity for all students to be able to read, locate, evaluate and interpret information accurately 4
49	49	for academic and professional success. 5
50	50	(4) Research consistently demonstrates that in schools with well-equipped and well-6
51	51	stocked school libraries staffed by certified school librarians, students achieve higher scores on 7
52	52	standardized reading tests, have higher graduation rates, and enjoy learning more even when taking 8
53	53	demographics into consideration. 9
54	54	16-117-3. Definitions. 10
55	55	As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless a 11
56	56	different meaning is clearly indicated by the context: 12
57	57	(1) "Commissioner” means the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. 13
58	58	(2) “Information literacy” means a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when 14
59	59	information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed 15
60	60	information. 16
61	61	(3) “Media literacy” means the ability to critically analyze stories presented in the mass 17
62	62	media and to determine their accuracy or credibility. 18
63	63	(4) “Public schools” means all public schools of any city or town in the state. This term 19
64	64	also includes all charter public schools, including district charter schools, independent charter 20
65	65	schools, and mayoral academies, and vocational schools. 21
66	66	(5) “School librarian” means a teaching professional who is certified by the department of 22
67	67	elementary and secondary education as an all grades library media teacher who is hired to run a 23
68	68	school library. This position may also be known as a school library media specialist. 24
69	69	(6) “School library” means a permanent facility in a public school that is available to the 25
70	70	entire school community and that contains learning and information resources and reading 26
71	71	materials in print and non-print media that is maintained and supervised by a certified school 27
72	72	librarian. This facility may also be known as a school library media center or library commons. 28
73	73	16-117-4. A school library in each public school. 29
74	74	(a) Pursuant to §16-1-5(7), the commissioner shall ensure that every public school in Rhode 30
75	75	Island has a school library in a permanent and dedicated space. 31
76	76	(b) A school library shall include the following essential elements, as determined by 32
77	77	professional standards: 33
78	78	(1) A collection of books and reading materials that is adequate in size for the student 34
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82	82	population of the school in order that every student is offered a range of choices to meet their 1
83	83	reading interests and reading level and that also supports the teaching and learning priorities of the 2
84	84	school; 3
85	85	(2) Appropriate space for students to read and study comfortably and for instruction to 4
86	86	occur; 5
87	87	(3) Adequate technology for students to utilize to access information resources, complete 6
88	88	school assignments and produce original work; 7
89	89	(4) An automated system for the management of the library collection; and 8
90	90	(5) An adequate budget for library materials in order that they are kept up to date and in 9
91	91	good condition. 10
92	92	16-117-5. A certified school librarian assigned to every public school. 11
93	93	(a) Pursuant to §16-1-5(7), the commissioner shall ensure that every public school in Rhode 12
94	94	Island has a certified school librarian to manage and maintain the library, provide information 13
95	95	resources to students and staff, promote reading and teach information literacy skills. 14
96	96	(b) All public schools in Rhode Island with populations of two hundred fifty (250) students 15
97	97	or more shall have at least one full-time certified school librarian who is dedicated to administering 16
98	98	and supervising the school library. Public schools with fewer than two hundred fifty (250) students 17
99	99	shall have at least a half-time certified school librarian who is dedicated to administering and 18
100	100	supervising the school library. 19
101	101	(c) The requirements of this section shall be phased in as follows: 20
102	102	(1) By the 2026-27 school year: All high schools shall have at least one full-time, certified 21
103	103	school librarian; 22
104	104	(2) By the 2028-29 school year: All high schools and middle schools shall have at least one 23
105	105	full-time, certified school librarian; and 24
106	106	(3) By the 2030-2031 school year: All schools kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), 25
107	107	shall have at least one full-time, certified school librarian. 26
108	108	16-117-6. Student access to the school library and its resources. 27
109	109	(a) Pursuant to §16-1-5(7), the commissioner shall ensure that public schools shall provide 28
110	110	students with access to the school library on a daily basis in order that students are aware of when 29
111	111	and how they are allowed to go to the library for book selection, reading, independent work, and 30
112	112	related activities. 31
113	113	(b) The provision set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall be required for all levels, 32
114	114	kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), and shall include time other than “library class” time or 33
115	115	scheduled research class time. 34
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119	119	(c) School librarians shall be available during this open library time. 1
120	120	(d) Secondary schools shall provide access to students beyond the school day. This access 2
121	121	may include before-school, after-school and/or Saturday hours. 3
122	122	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 4
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129	129	EXPLANATION
130	130	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
131	131	OF
132	132	A N A C T
133	133	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT
134	134	***
135	135	This act would direct the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to ensure 1
136	136	that every public school has a school library in a permanent and dedicated space. This act would 2
137	137	also direct the commissioner to ensure that every public school has a certified school librarian to 3
138	138	manage and maintain the library. 4
139	139	This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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