Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0639 Compare Versions

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

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5	5	2025 -- S 0639
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7	7	LC002288
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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: Senators Gallo, McKenney, Tikoian, Raptakis, LaMountain, and DiPalma
17	17	Date Introduced: March 07, 2025
18	18	Referred To: Senate Education
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21	21	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by 1
23	23	adding thereto the following chapter: 2
24	24	CHAPTER 117 3
25	25	THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT 4
26	26	16-117-1. Short title. 5
27	27	This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "The School Libraries Act". 6
28	28	16-117-2. Statement of policy. 7
29	29	(a) The general assembly hereby declares the following to be the policy of this state: 8
30	30	(1) School libraries, with well-funded programs, are essential to schools as research 9
31	31	consistently shows that students become better readers and read more when they are provided with 10
32	32	a wide variety of reading materials from which they can select to read. School librarians are trained 11
33	33	experts and are highly qualified to provide dynamic book collections meeting all reading levels and 12
34	34	spanning a variety of interests that allow students to choose their reading materials. School libraries 13
35	35	and school librarians foster a love of reading and a love of learning that enables students to become 14
36	36	life-long learners. 15
37	37	(2) School libraries and school librarians are essential in the instruction of information 16
38	38	literacy and media literacy in the age of limitless information sources, social media, misinformation 17
39	39	and disinformation. School librarians teach students to identify, evaluate and use information in 18
40	40	order to become competent researchers and ethical consumers and users of information. 19
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44	44	(3) In order to be college and career ready in the twenty first century, students shall have 1
45	45	access to and be able to use information resources including books, digital media, web resources, 2
46	46	databases, and technology vetted by school librarians. Library programs provide equitable 3
47	47	opportunity for all students to be able to read, locate, evaluate and interpret information accurately 4
48	48	for academic and professional success. 5
49	49	(4) Research consistently demonstrates that in schools with well-equipped and well-6
50	50	stocked school libraries staffed by certified school librarians, students achieve higher scores on 7
51	51	standardized reading tests, have higher graduation rates, and enjoy learning more even when taking 8
52	52	demographics into consideration. 9
53	53	16-117-3. Definitions. 10
54	54	As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless a 11
55	55	different meaning is clearly indicated by the context: 12
56	56	(1) "Commissioner” means the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. 13
57	57	(2) “Information literacy” means a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when 14
58	58	information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed 15
59	59	information. 16
60	60	(3) “Media literacy” means the ability to critically analyze stories presented in the mass 17
61	61	media and to determine their accuracy or credibility. 18
62	62	(4) “Public schools” means all public schools of any city or town in the state. This term 19
63	63	also includes all charter public schools, including district charter schools, independent charter 20
64	64	schools, and mayoral academies, and vocational schools. 21
65	65	(5) “School librarian” means a teaching professional who is certified by the department of 22
66	66	elementary and secondary education as an all grades library media teacher who is hired to run a 23
67	67	school library. This position may also be known as a school library media specialist. 24
68	68	(6) “School library” means a permanent facility in a public school that is available to the 25
69	69	entire school community and that contains learning and information resources and reading 26
70	70	materials in print and non-print media that is maintained and supervised by a certified school 27
71	71	librarian. This facility may also be known as a school library media center or library commons. 28
72	72	16-117-4. A school library in each public school. 29
73	73	(a) Pursuant to §16-1-5(7), the commissioner shall ensure that every public school in Rhode 30
74	74	Island has a school library in a permanent and dedicated space. 31
75	75	(b) A school library shall include the following essential elements, as determined by 32
76	76	professional standards: 33
77	77	(1) A collection of books and reading materials that is adequate in size for the student 34
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81	81	population of the school in order that every student is offered a range of choices to meet their 1
82	82	reading interests and reading level and that also supports the teaching and learning priorities of the 2
83	83	school; 3
84	84	(2) Appropriate space for students to read and study comfortably and for instruction to 4
85	85	occur; 5
86	86	(3) Adequate technology for students to utilize to access information resources, complete 6
87	87	school assignments and produce original work; 7
88	88	(4) An automated system for the management of the library collection; and 8
89	89	(5) An adequate budget for library materials in order that they are kept up to date and in 9
90	90	good condition. 10
91	91	16-117-5. A certified school librarian assigned to every public school. 11
92	92	(a) Pursuant to §16-1-5(7), the commissioner shall ensure that every public school in Rhode 12
93	93	Island has a certified school librarian to manage and maintain the library, provide information 13
94	94	resources to students and staff, promote reading and teach information literacy skills. 14
95	95	(b) All public schools in Rhode Island with populations of two hundred fifty (250) students 15
96	96	or more shall have at least one full-time certified school librarian who is dedicated to administering 16
97	97	and supervising the school library. Public schools with fewer than two hundred fifty (250) students 17
98	98	shall have at least a half-time certified school librarian who is dedicated to administering and 18
99	99	supervising the school library. 19
100	100	(c) The requirements of this section shall be phased in as follows: 20
101	101	(1) By the 2026-27 school year: All high schools shall have at least one full-time, certified 21
102	102	school librarian; 22
103	103	(2) By the 2028-29 school year: All high schools and middle schools shall have at least one 23
104	104	full-time, certified school librarian; and 24
105	105	(3) By the 2030-2031 school year: All schools kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), 25
106	106	shall have at least one full-time, certified school librarian. 26
107	107	16-117-6. Student access to the school library and its resources. 27
108	108	(a) Pursuant to §16-1-5(7), the commissioner shall ensure that public schools shall provide 28
109	109	students with access to the school library on a daily basis in order that students are aware of when 29
110	110	and how they are allowed to go to the library for book selection, reading, independent work, and 30
111	111	related activities. 31
112	112	(b) The provision set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall be required for all levels, 32
113	113	kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), and shall include time other than “library class” time or 33
114	114	scheduled research class time. 34
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118	118	(c) School librarians shall be available during this open library time. 1
119	119	(d) Secondary schools shall provide access to students beyond the school day. This access 2
120	120	may include before-school, after-school and/or Saturday hours. 3
121	121	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 4
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128	128	EXPLANATION
129	129	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
130	130	OF
131	131	A N A C T
132	132	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT
133	133	***
134	134	This act would direct the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to ensure 1
135	135	that every public school has a school library in a permanent and dedicated space. This act would 2
136	136	also direct the commissioner to ensure that every public school has a certified school librarian to 3
137	137	manage and maintain the library. 4
138	138	This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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