BCPL Announces Record $52 million Common School Fund Distribution for 2023!

The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) announced on November 17 that the 2023 Common School Fund Distribution will be a record-breaking $52 million. 

WEMTA President Tina Birkett spoke during a press conference held to announce the amount. News footage of the press conference can be seen here. 

“We are grateful for the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands’ commitment to our public school libraries. The funding provided by the Common School Fund ensures that Wisconsin school librarians and media specialists can provide the resources necessary to deepen student learning, strengthen reading comprehension and foster information and digital literacy,” said Birkett.

Federal Right to Read Act Introduced

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) have introduced the federal Right to Read Act (H.R. 9056 and S.5064).  

TL:DR:

• the Act defines effective school libraries to mean ones that are staffed by at least one full-time certified school librarian; 
• creates a Right to Read for students;
• requires states and school districts to affirm the first amendment rights of school libraries;
• requires the federal government to collect data on school libraries; 
• expands certain ESEA grant activities to include digital and information literacy activities 
• requires ESEA state plans to ensure equitable access to effective school libraries;
• provides $500 million for literacy grants and $100 million for innovative approaches to literacy grants that could be used to support school libraries 

If you want to go deep:

The Act does the following:

• Defines an "effective school library" to mean a library that is:
• staffed by at least one full-time state-certified school librarian;
• is otherwise adequately staffed to be open to students before, during and after the school day; 
• has a sufficient collection of curated up-to-date digital and print materials and technology, including openly licensed educational resources;
• provides appropriate facilities for maintaining and providing equitable access to materials, technology, connectivity, and library and literacy instruction;
• provides regular professional development for teachers, school librarians, and other educators;
• provides opportunities for collaboration between classroom teachers and school librarians, and 
• implements nationally recognized standards of practice 

• Requires the National Center for Education Statistics to annually collect data on school libraries, including:
• the number and percentage of elementary and secondary schools that employ at least one full-time state-certified school librarian
• the number and percentage of schools that have a dedicated school library facility 

• Defines the "Right to Read" as "all students have access to linguistically and developmentally appropriate, evidence-based reading instruction; effective school libraries; family literacy support; culturally diverse and inclusive materials; reading materials in the home; and the freedom to choose reading materials."

• Creates liability protections for school librarians and teachers related to the Right to Read

• Requires state and local educational agencies to make assurances to the federal government that they understand the importance of the First Amendment protections in school libraries as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas 

• Adds school librarians to the multidisciplinary teams required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to review state plans 

• Adds requirements to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that each state plan must:
•  describe how the state will work to ensure that low income children, minority children, children with disabilities, and English language learners are not disproportionally enrolled in schools that lack an effective school library
• the measures that the state educational agency will use to evaluate and publicly report the progress with respect to ensuring access to an effective school library 
• how the state educational agency will provide assistance to local educational agencies and individual schools in supporting digital literacy and information literacy skills development 
• include assurances that all teachers, school librarians and paraprofessionals working in a program supported with Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds meet applicable State certification and licensure requirements
• include assurances that the state educational agency has a policy protecting the right to read

• Adds requirements to the ESEA that local educational agency plans must:
• include school librarians in their development 
• describe how the local educational agency will support and improve effective school libraries by supporting the work of the State-certified school librarians to ensure that students have equitable access to such libraries 
• describe how the local educational agency will assist schools in developing effective school libraries to provide students an opportunity to develop digital literacy and information literacy skills and improve academic achievement
• describe the policies the local education agency has in place to protect the right to read 

• Provides $500 million for comprehensive literacy state development grants
• requires states to work with the state library administrative agency in developing their application. 
• applications must also include a needs assessment that analyzes literacy needs across the state, including high quality print materials and effective school libraries  
• states could use up to 5% of grants funds received to carry out activities that include providing technical assistance to eligible entities in the development of effective school libraries, which could include the development of a statewide office 

• Provides $100 million for innovative approaches to literacy grants 
• adds "increasing the number of state-certified school librarians supporting students in high need schools" to the list of eligible activities 

• Allows states to use ESEA grant funding on activities:
•  supporting and improving effective school libraries that involve collaboration with state-certified school librarians
• developing, improving and implementing mechanisms to assist local educational agencies and schools in effectively recruiting, hiring and retaining state-certified school librarians
• providing training to school librarians, teachers and school leaders on how to leverage effective school libraries for academic achievement, digital literacy, information literacy, and student and family engagement 

• Updates criteria for state use of ESEA Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants funds to include:
• supporting local educational agencies to offer well-rounded experiences to all students, including digital literacy and information literacy activities and programs, including those provided through an effective school library