§ 6383. Improving literacy through school libraries

(a) Purposes

The purpose of this subpart is to improve literacy skills and academic achievement of students by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials, a well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media center, and well-trained, professionally certified school library media specialists.

(b) Reservation

From the funds appropriated under section 6302 (b)(4) of this title for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve—

(1) one-half of 1 percent to award assistance under this section to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to carry out activities consistent with the purpose of this subpart; and

(2) one-half of 1 percent to award assistance under this section to the outlying areas according to their respective needs for assistance under this subpart.

(1) Competitive grants to eligible local educational agencies

If the amount of funds appropriated under section 6302 (b)(4) of this title for a fiscal year is less than $100,000,000, then the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible local educational agencies under subsection (e) of this section.

(2) Formula grants to States

If the amount of funds appropriated under section 6302 (b)(4) of this title for a fiscal year equals or exceeds $100,000,000, then the Secretary shall award grants to State educational agencies from allotments under subsection (d) of this section.

(3) Definition of eligible local educational agency

In this section the term “eligible local educational agency” means—

(A) in the case of a local educational agency receiving assistance made available under paragraph (1), a local educational agency in which 20 percent of the students served by the local educational agency are from families with incomes below the poverty line; and

(B) in the case of a local educational agency receiving assistance from State allocations made available under paragraph (2), a local educational agency in which—

(i) 15 percent of the students who are served by the local educational agency are from such families; or

(ii) the percentage of students from such families who are served by the local educational agency is greater than the statewide percentage of children from such families.

(d) State grants

(1) Allotments

From funds made available under subsection (c)(2) of this section and not reserved under subsections (b) and (j) of this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State educational agency having an application approved under subsection (f)(1) of this section an amount that bears the same relation to the funds as the amount the State educational agency received under part A of this subchapter for the preceding fiscal year bears to the amount all such State educational agencies received under part A of this subchapter for the preceding fiscal year, to increase literacy and reading skills by improving school libraries.

(2) Competitive grants to eligible local educational agencies

Each State educational agency receiving an allotment under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year—

(A) may reserve not more than 3 percent of the allotted funds to provide technical assistance, disseminate information about school library media programs that are effective and based on scientifically based research, and pay administrative costs related to activities under this section; and

(B) shall use the allotted funds that remain after making the reservation under subparagraph (A) to award grants, for a period of 1 year, on a competitive basis, to eligible local educational agencies in the State that have an application approved under subsection (f)(2) of this section for activities described in subsection (g) of this section.

(3) Reallotment

If a State educational agency does not apply for an allotment under this section for any fiscal year, or if the State educational agency’s application is not approved, the Secretary shall reallot the amount of the State educational agency’s allotment to the remaining State educational agencies in accordance with paragraph (1).

(e) Direct competitive grants to eligible local educational agencies

(1) In general

From amounts made available under subsection (c)(1) of this section and not reserved under subsections (b) and (j) of this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible local educational agencies that have applications approved under subsection (f)(2) of this section for activities described in subsection (g) of this section.

(2) Duration

The Secretary shall award grants under this subsection for a period of 1 year.

(3) Distribution

The Secretary shall ensure that grants under this subsection are equitably distributed among the different geographic regions of the United States, and among local educational agencies serving urban and rural areas.

(f) Applications

(1) State educational agency

Each State educational agency desiring assistance under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require. The application shall contain a description of—

(A) how the State educational agency will assist eligible local educational agencies in meeting the requirements of this section and in using scientifically based research to implement effective school library media programs; and

(B) the standards and techniques the State educational agency will use to evaluate the quality and impact of activities carried out under this section by eligible local educational agencies to determine the need for technical assistance and whether to continue to provide additional funding to the agencies under this section.

(2) Eligible local educational agency

Each eligible local educational agency desiring assistance under this section shall submit to the Secretary or State educational agency, as appropriate, an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary or State educational agency, respectively, shall require. The application shall contain a description of—

(A) a needs assessment relating to the need for school library media improvement, based on the age and condition of school library media resources, including book collections, access of school library media centers to advanced technology, and the availability of well-trained, professionally certified school library media specialists, in schools served by the eligible local educational agency;

(B) the manner in which the eligible local educational agency will use the funds made available through the grant to carry out the activities described in subsection (g) of this section;

(C) how the eligible local educational agency will extensively involve school library media specialists, teachers, administrators, and parents in the activities assisted under this section, and the manner in which the eligible local educational agency will carry out the activities described in subsection (g) of this section using programs and materials that are grounded in scientifically based research;

(D) the manner in which the eligible local educational agency will effectively coordinate the funds and activities provided under this section with Federal, State, and local funds and activities under this subpart and other literacy, library, technology, and professional development funds and activities; and

(E) the manner in which the eligible local educational agency will collect and analyze data on the quality and impact of activities carried out under this section by schools served by the eligible local educational agency.

(g) Local activities

Funds under this section may be used to—

(1) acquire up-to-date school library media resources, including books;

(2) acquire and use advanced technology, incorporated into the curricula of the school, to develop and enhance the information literacy, information retrieval, and critical thinking skills of students;

(3) facilitate Internet links and other resource-sharing networks among schools and school library media centers, and public and academic libraries, where possible;

(4) provide professional development described in section 6372 (d)(2) of this title for school library media specialists, and activities that foster increased collaboration between school library media specialists, teachers, and administrators; and

(5) provide students with access to school libraries during nonschool hours, including the hours before and after school, during weekends, and during summer vacation periods.

(h) Accountability and reporting

(1) Local reports

Each eligible local educational agency that receives funds under this section for a fiscal year shall report to the Secretary or State educational agency, as appropriate, on how the funding was used and the extent to which the availability of, the access to, and the use of, up-to-date school library media resources in the elementary schools and secondary schools served by the eligible local educational agency was increased.

(2) State report

Each State educational agency that receives funds under this section shall compile the reports received under paragraph (1) and submit the compiled reports to the Secretary.

(i) Supplement, not supplant

Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds expended to carry out activities relating to library, technology, or professional development activities.

(j) National activities

(1) Evaluations

From the funds appropriated under section 6302 (b)(4) of this title for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not more than 1 percent for annual, independent, national evaluations of the activities assisted under this section and their impact on improving the reading skills of students. The evaluations shall be conducted not later than 3 years after January 8, 2002, and biennially thereafter.

(2) Report to Congress

The Secretary shall transmit the State reports received under subsection (h)(2) of this section and the evaluations conducted under paragraph (1) to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives.

U.S. Code

§ 6383. Improving literacy through school libraries