Bill > HB263

This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to hire at least one certified school library specialist within the Department of Education, who must have at least five years of experience as a public school librarian in Virginia and hold an endorsement in library media for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. This specialist will be subject to the Virginia Personnel Act, which governs state employee employment. The specialist's duties will include providing leadership and technical help to school divisions and others on information literacy skills to boost student achievement, overseeing the implementation of state and national school library standards, and assisting local divisions with these standards. They will also collaborate on grants and initiatives to improve student literacy through school library programs, support student learning by ensuring programs require students to demonstrate information literacy, digital literacy, fluency, and effective technology use, and integrate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning. Furthermore, the specialist will offer support to the Department of Education, the Board of Education, the General Assembly, and school boards regarding student learning through library standards and resources, research and promote educational technology, create a guide connecting national library standards with Virginia's Standards of Learning, work with The Library of Virginia to promote digital resources for K-12 students, act as a consultant on school librarian licensing, keep the Department informed on school library matters, help divisions without their own library supervisors, and develop common evaluation practices and professional development for school librarians on integrating library standards and using digital resources.

Budget and Finance, Education, Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB263