School accountability: Statewide School Library Lead.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effectiveness is contingent upon an appropriation, which means it may or may not be implemented depending on funding.

School Library Lead for California

This law creates a Statewide School Library Lead position to improve library services and literacy in California's schools.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the selection of an applicant county office of education to serve as a Statewide School Library Lead by July 1, 2026.
• The selected lead must work with the State Board of Education, the department, and other educational groups to establish library and literacy services that support the statewide system of support.
• Requires the chosen county office of education to hire at least one fully credentialed teacher librarian.
• Specifies duties for the Statewide School Library Lead including enhancing state investment in literacy and aligning efforts with the California Comprehensive State Literacy Plan.

Who It Names or Affects

• County offices of education
• School districts
• Charter schools

Terms To Know

Statewide School Library Lead

A person chosen to help improve library services and literacy in California's schools.

Teacher librarian

An educator who is trained to manage school libraries and teach students about books and reading.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only works if there is money set aside for it.
• It does not specify the exact job duties or compensation for the Statewide School Library Lead beyond improving literacy and library services.

Official Summary Text

SB 478, as introduced, Ashby.
School accountability: Statewide School Library Lead.
Existing law establishes a single system for providing support to local educational agencies and schools and for specified federal educational programs. Existing law provides that the purpose of the statewide system of support is to build the capacity of local educational agencies, as specified.
Existing law requires the State Department of Education and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence to establish a process, administered by the department, to select, subject to approval by the executive director of the State Board of Education, an expert lead agency based on specific expertise in an area of need to conduct activities and build statewide capacity to address that area of need within the statewide system of support, as well as geographic lead agencies for other specified purposes, as provided.
This bill, contingent upon an appropriation for these purposes, would require the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on or before July 1, 2026, to select an applicant county office of education to serve as a Statewide School Library Lead to work collaboratively with the State Board of Education, the department, and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, among others, to establish library and literacy services that support the statewide system of support. The bill would require the selected county office of education to employ at least one fully credentialed teacher librarian. The bill would specify that the Statewide School Library Lead’s duties include, among other things, enhancing the state’s investment in literacy and aligning those efforts with the California Comprehensive State Literacy Plan and working directly with school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools
to build capacity to develop excellent school library services and accelerate literacy and learning, including coordinating support, providing direct technical assistance, and delivering professional learning.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF