School library info and tech

AN ACT Relating to school library information and technology 1
programs; amending RCW 28A.320.240; adding a new section to chapter 2
28A.320 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a 3
new section to chapter 28A.305 RCW; and creating a new section.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that students with 6
access to school library information and technology programs staffed 7
by qualified teacher-librarians have improved school and life 8
outcomes, including higher academic achievement, increased graduation 9
rates, and increased preparedness for college or career pathways. 10
Unfortunately, not all students have access to these programs 11
statewide, leading to disparate outcomes. According to recent data 12
collected by the Washington library association, nearly 60 percent of 13
school districts in Washington state have no certified teacher-14
librarian running their school library information and technology 15
programs. Lack of access to these programs disproportionately impacts 16
low-income families and families of color. Recent findings show that 17
access to high-quality school libraries was one of the most 18
significant factors in closing the literacy gap for students 19
experiencing poverty.20
H-0574.4
HOUSE BILL 1727
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Rule, Eslick, Parshley, Pollet, and Timmons
Read first time 01/30/25. Referred to Committee on Education.
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Additionally, the legislature finds that the rise of 1
misinformation and disinformation available through the internet 2
necessitates comprehensive instruction by a qualified teacher-3
librarian in information literacy, digital citizenship, and media 4
literacy for all K-12 students. The value of these programs was 5
apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. School districts with 6
qualified teacher-librarians and strong school library information 7
and technology programs were better able to support teachers, 8
students, and families during remote learning. 9
The legislature has shown support for school library information 10
and technology programs through the passage of legislation clearly 11
defining both programs and teacher-librarians. These programs have 12
been acknowledged as critically important to supporting state-13
mandated learning goals, state learning standards, and high school 14
graduation requirements through inclusion of both teacher-librarians 15
and library materials as part of basic education in the prototypical 16
school model. Teacher-librarians are seen as critical partners in the 17
education of our students including in the equitable and successful 18
use of educational technology. Despite this continued support from 19
the legislature, data shows large areas of Washington where students 20
do not have access to school library information and technology 21
programs staffed by qualified teacher-librarians. 22
The legislature intends to provide access to high-quality school 23
library information and technology programs with qualified teacher-24
librarians for students and staff at all K-12 levels while also 25
recognizing the value of allowing local school boards to decide how 26
to most effectively implement these essential programs for their 27
schools and students. 28
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 29
RCW to read as follows: 30
By September 1, 2026, each school district must adopt or amend:31
(1) A policy that acknowledges the requirement for boards of 32
directors to provide every student with access to school library 33
information and technology programs as specified in RCW 28A.320.240; 34
and 35
(2) Procedures that describe how students can access school 36
library information and technology instruction, resources, and 37
materials. 38
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Sec. 3. RCW 28A.320.240 and 2015 c 27 s 1 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
(1) The purpose of this section is to identify quality criteria 3
for school library information and technology programs that support 4
the student learning goals under RCW 28A.150.210, the ((essential 5
academic learning requirements )) state learning standards under RCW 6
28A.655.070, and high school graduation requirements adopted under 7
RCW 28A.230.090. 8
(2) Every board of directors shall provide resources and 9
materials for the operation of a school library information and 10
technology program ((s as the board deems necessary for the proper 11
education of the district's students or as otherwise required by law 12
or rule of the superintendent of public instruction )). Each student 13
must have access to a school library information and technology 14
program, as determined by the board of directors and consistent with 15
the requirements of this section. 16
(3) "Teacher-librarian" means a certificated teacher with a 17
library media endorsement under rules adopted by the professional 18
educator standards board. 19
(4)(a) "School library information and technology program" means 20
a school-based program that is staffed , except as provided under (b) 21
of this subsection, by a certificated teacher-librarian and provides 22
a broad, flexible array of services, resources, and instruction that 23
support student mastery of the ((essential academic learning 24
requirements)) state learning standards and state standards in all 25
subject areas and the implementation of the district's school 26
improvement plan. 27
(b) A school district with fewer than 3,000 enrolled students may 28
use a noncertificated staff member to oversee a school library 29
information and technology program if the district has made all 30
reasonable efforts to use a certificated teacher-librarian. In such a 31
circumstance, a school district is authorized and encouraged to 32
partner with an educational service district or one or more school 33
districts to provide for the requirements of the school library 34
information and technology program. The school library information 35
and technology program must remain school-based and may not operate 36
at a satellite location. School districts are encouraged to partner 37
with a library or regional library as defined in RCW 27.12.010, or an 38
institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, for 39
materials and resources.40
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(5) The teacher-librarian, through the school library information 1
and technology program, shall collaborate as an instructional partner 2
to help all students meet the content goals in all subject areas, and 3
assist high school students completing high school and beyond plans 4
required for graduation. 5
(6) The teacher-librarian's duties may include, but are not 6
limited to, collaborating with his or her schools to:7
(a) Integrate information and technology into curriculum and 8
instruction, including but not limited to instructing other 9
certificated staff about using and integrating information and 10
technology literacy into instruction through workshops, modeling 11
lessons, and individual peer coaching; 12
(b) Provide information management instruction to students and 13
staff about how to effectively use emerging learning technologies for 14
school and lifelong learning, as well as in the appropriate use of 15
computers and mobile devices in an educational setting;16
(c) Help teachers and students efficiently and effectively access 17
the highest quality information available while using information 18
ethically; 19
(d) Instruct students in digital citizenship including how to be 20
critical consumers of information and provide guidance about 21
thoughtful and strategic use of online resources; ((and))22
(e) Create a culture of reading in the school community by 23
developing a diverse, student-focused collection of materials that 24
ensures all students can find something of quality to read and by 25
facilitating school-wide reading initiatives along with providing 26
individual support and guidance for students; and27
(f) Direct classified staff, including library technicians, 28
library assistants, and others, to implement the school library 29
information and technology program. 30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 31
RCW to read as follows: 32
(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall oversee school 33
library information and technology programs. In meeting this 34
requirement, the superintendent of public instruction, at a minimum, 35
shall: 36
(a) Identify a single point of contact at the office of the 37
superintendent of public instruction to respond to library 38
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information and technology inquiries from school district personnel, 1
including teachers and teacher-librarians; 2
(b) Gather and analyze data related to the implementation of 3
school library information and technology programs and the assessment 4
of students' educational technology literacy and technology fluency;5
(c) Provide technical assistance on establishing school library 6
and information technology programs within existing resources to 7
schools that do not have these programs. In meeting the obligations 8
of this subsection (1)(c), the office of the superintendent of public 9
instruction must prioritize the provision of assistance to schools 10
receiving funding under Title I, part A of the federal elementary and 11
secondary education act of 1965; 12
(d) Assist public schools with the effective implementation of 13
school library information and technology programs;14
(e) Support public schools in evaluating how they are providing 15
opportunities for every student to meet basic education technology 16
literacy and fluency goals, under RCW 28A.150.210(3);17
(f) Identify and share assessments and other measures of 18
students' knowledge and skill in the areas of educational technology 19
literacy and technology fluency, as defined in RCW 28A.655.075;20
(g) Produce, in consultation with the Washington state school 21
directors' association, guidance for school districts on the best 22
models and practices for school library information and technology 23
programs; and 24
(h) Facilitate the adoption of statewide library standards based 25
on the American association of school librarians and the 26
international society for technology in education standards.27
(2) For the purposes of this section, "school library information 28
and technology program" has the same meaning as in RCW 28A.320.240.29
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28A.305 30
RCW to read as follows: 31
(1) Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the state board of 32
education, in accordance with section 2, chapter 280, Laws of 2011, 33
shall annually monitor school district compliance with RCW 34
28A.320.240(2). In meeting the requirements of this section, the 35
state board of education must collect information for each school 36
district about: 37
(a) Student access to school library information and technology 38
programs; 39
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(b) Media literacy and digital citizenship instruction; and1
(c) Technology literacy instruction. 2
(2) The monitoring required by this section may be conducted 3
concurrently with other oversight and monitoring conducted by the 4
state board of education. 5
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