SKILLS ACT - S.1699 and H.R. 2864

Please support the SKILLS Act by urging your State Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor S. 1699 and H.R. 2864.

On Tuesday, June 26, 2007 the Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLS) Act was introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS.) In the House of Representatives, Representatives Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI)introduced the Act. Strengthening school libraries is a long-overdue solution to educational inequities throughout the nation and especially California. The SKILLS Act is a practical and potentially powerful solution - strong school library programs for all students, not just half of them. Write to your Congressional representatives and urge that they co-sponsor the legislation. It makes sense for our kids. It makes sense for America. Act now!

Way too many students arrive at colleges and universities ill-equipped to conduct college level research because they graduated from high schools without receiving lifelong learning skills, such as research and information literacy.

I'm sure California school teacher-librarians and their advocates will cheer when Senators Feldstein and Boxer (hopefully) announce their co-sponsorship of S. 1699. And when California House Representatives all sign up as co-sponsors of H.R. 2864. What would be especially cool would be for teacher-librarians across the country (especially those who are taking the free, online summer course School Library Learning 2.0) to urge their Congress members to also co-sponsor the bills.

To learn more about the Senate and House bills, see the Library of Congress legislative database, Thomas.