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.30 RCW; and creating 3
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 have no certified teacher-librarian 14
running their school library information and technology programs. 15
Lack of access to these programs disproportionately impacts low-16
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. Additionally, the legislature finds that the 20
rise of misinformation and disinformation available through the 21
S-0864.1
SENATE BILL 5551
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Wellman, Cortes, Harris, Hasegawa, Liias, and Slatter
Read first time 01/28/25. Referred to Committee on Early Learning &
K-12 Education.
p. 1 SB 5551
internet necessitates comprehensive instruction by a qualified 1
teacher-librarian in information literacy, digital citizenship, and 2
media literacy for all K-12 students. The value of these programs was 3
apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. School districts with 4
qualified teacher-librarians and strong school library information 5
and technology programs were better able to support teachers, 6
students, and families during remote learning. 7
The legislature has shown support for school library information 8
and technology programs through the passage of legislation clearly 9
defining both programs and teacher-librarians. These programs have 10
been acknowledged as critically important to supporting state-11
mandated learning goals, essential academic learning requirements, 12
and high school graduation requirements through inclusion of both 13
teacher-librarians and library materials as part of basic education 14
in the prototypical school model. Teacher-librarians are seen as 15
critical partners in the education of our students including in the 16
equitable and successful use of educational technology. Despite this 17
continued support from the legislature, data shows large areas of 18
Washington where students do not have access to school library 19
information and technology programs staffed by qualified teacher-20
librarians. 21
The legislature intends to provide access to high-quality school 22
library information and technology programs with qualified teacher-23
librarians for students and staff at all K-12 levels while also 24
recognizing the value of allowing local school boards to decide how 25
to most effectively implement these essential programs for their 26
schools and students. 27
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 28
RCW to read as follows: 29
By September 1, 2026, each school district must adopt or amend:30
(1) A policy that acknowledges the requirement for boards of 31
directors to provide every student with access to school library 32
information and technology programs as specified in RCW 28A.320.240; 33
and 34
(2) Procedures that describe how students can access school 35
library information and technology instruction, resources, and 36
materials. 37
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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
shall 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 of the second class, as described in RCW 28
28A.300.065, may use a noncertificated staff member to oversee a 29
school library information and technology program if the district has 30
made all reasonable efforts to use a certificated teacher-librarian. 31
In such a circumstance, a school district is authorized and 32
encouraged to partner with a nonprofit or government entity to 33
provide for the requirements of the school library information and 34
technology program including, but not limited to, a library or 35
regional library as defined in RCW 27.12.010, or an institution of 36
higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016. The school library 37
information and technology program must remain school-based and may 38
not operate at a satellite location.39
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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 technology program. 30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 31
RCW to read as follows: 32
The superintendent of public instruction shall oversee school 33
library information and technology programs, as defined in RCW 34
28A.320.240 by, at a minimum: 35
(1) Identifying a single point of contact at the office of the 36
superintendent of public instruction to respond to library 37
information and technology inquiries; 38
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(2) Gathering and analyzing data related to the implementation of 1
school library information and technology programs and the assessment 2
of students' educational technology literacy and technology fluency;3
(3) Providing technical assistance on establishing school library 4
and information technology programs within existing resources to 5
schools that do not have school library and information technology 6
programs, beginning with schools receiving funding under Title I, 7
part A of the federal elementary and secondary education act of 1965, 8
20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.; 9
(4) Assisting public schools with the effective implementation of 10
school library information and technology programs;11
(5) Supporting public schools in evaluating how they are 12
providing opportunities for every student to meet educational 13
technology literacy and fluency goals under RCW 28A.655.075;14
(6) Identifying and sharing assessments and other measures of 15
students' knowledge and skill in the areas of educational technology 16
literacy and technology fluency, under RCW 28A.655.075;17
(7) Producing, in consultation with the Washington state school 18
directors' association, guidance for school districts on the best 19
models and practices for school library information and technology 20
programs; and 21
(8) Facilitating adoption of statewide library standards using 22
American association of school librarians and international society 23
for technology in education standards as the basis.24
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