Bill Text: CA SCR129 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Concurrent Resolution 129 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: School Librarians Month.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Passed) 2016-05-24 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 47, Statutes of 2016. [SCR129 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SCR129-Chaptered.html

BILL NUMBER: SCR 129	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  47
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  MAY 24, 2016
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  APRIL 25, 2016
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 19, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Leyva
   (Coauthors: Senators Beall, Mendoza, Pan, and Vidak)

                        APRIL 7, 2016

   Relative to school librarians.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 129, 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.



   WHEREAS, With skills such as reading, writing, researching,
critical thinking, and information literacy more important than ever
to individual opportunity and global economic competitiveness, it is
critical that California's students are exposed to these 21st century
learning skills through trained librarians at their school
libraries; and
   WHEREAS, Information literacy is the ability to identify an
information need, as well as locate, evaluate, and use information
effectively and ethically; and
   WHEREAS, Because information literacy, digital literacy, and
digital citizenship are mandated elements of public education, it is
critical that school districts provide quality school libraries
staffed with trained librarians to help students excel in these
areas; and
   WHEREAS, The lack of a quality school library negatively affects
all students but has the most significant impact on socioeconomically
disadvantaged students, English learners, and foster youth; and
   WHEREAS, These negative impacts are exacerbated by the lack of
equitable access to school libraries and trained librarians at
schools with large percentages of socioeconomically disadvantaged
students, English learners, and foster youth; and
   WHEREAS, Research indicates that schools with a quality school
library staffed by credentialed teacher librarians outperform those
without such programs, regardless of the school community's parent
education levels, poverty levels, ethnicity, or percentage of English
learners; and
   WHEREAS, Based on data from the State Department of Education,
California ranks last in the nation in the number of credentialed
teacher librarians with a ratio of 7,187 students to one teacher
librarian; and
   WHEREAS, School libraries provide a safe haven on campus for
students during or after school, and it is vital that all students
have the opportunity to discover and learn about issues and subjects
that capture their interest; and
   WHEREAS, Whereas the presence of a credentialed teacher librarian
is integral to helping students find and pursue their passions
through research materials and books that spark their interest; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the month of April
2016 as School Librarians Month and acknowledges the excellent work
being done by credentialed teacher librarians and school library
staff in all of California's schools from primary grades to
universities; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.