I'm reaching out to urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610, which advocate for certified school librarians in all PA schools. Certified librarians offer personalized guidance and access to diverse reading materials crucial for student literacy. Research consistently shows that students with access to professional librarians achieve higher reading and writing scores, and a 2022 Rutgers study showed a higher level of college readiness in academic research skills. Unfortunately, 54 school districts in PA lacked a librarian in 2020-21, and another 81 districts employed one part-time librarian to serve all students. This inequity often affects our most vulnerable students, including those living in poverty, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. The PA Department of Education has supported 43 library curriculum standards to foster critical thinking and information literacy. By ensuring certified librarians in all schools, we can guarantee essential services for student success. As your constituent and advocate for quality education, I strongly urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610. Let's empower all students to achieve their full academic potential. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

I urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610, advocating for certified school librarians in all PA schools. Certified librarians offer vital personalized guidance and access to diverse reading materials, crucial for student literacy. Research consistently shows improved reading and writing scores with access to professional librarians, and a 2022 Rutgers study demonstrated higher levels of college readiness in academic research. Unfortunately, 54 PA school districts lacked a librarian in 2020-21, and another 81 employed one part-time professional to serve all students. This inequity disproportionately affects our most vulnerable students, including those living in poverty, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. The absence of these critical services denies them the support and resources essential for academic success. The PA Department of Education has endorsed a library curriculum including 43 standards to foster critical thinking and information literacy. By requiring certified librarians in all schools, we guarantee essential services for student success. As your constituent and advocate for quality education, I strongly urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610. Let's empower all students to achieve their full potential academically. Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter.

I urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610, advocating for certified school librarians in all PA schools. Certified librarians are essential for developing research skills, digital literacy, and college and career readiness among students. A recent study by Rutgers University showed that college freshmen with high school research experience, especially from schools with certified librarians, excelled in using academic research tools and demonstrating digital literacy. Unfortunately, 54 school districts in PA lacked a librarian in 2020-21, and another 81 districts employed only one part-time professional. This significantly affects students' access to these crucial skills and commonly occurs among our most vulnerable populations, including those living in poverty, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. By ensuring certified librarians in all schools, we can empower students to succeed academically and prepare for their future careers. As your constituent and advocate for quality education, I strongly urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610. Let's equip every student with the tools they need for success in college and beyond. Thank you for considering this important matter.

I am writing to emphasize the urgent need for HB 640 and SB 610, which advocate for certified school librarians in all Pennsylvania schools. The data reveals a stark reality: 54 Pennsylvania public school districts operated without any school librarians, affecting over 100,000 K-12 public school students. Furthermore, another 81 districts had only one part-time librarian for the entire district. In contrast, 83 districts have enough librarians for one full-time librarian per building. This glaring disparity highlights the growing inequities in school library services and instruction across Pennsylvania, often impacting our most vulnerable students including those living in poverty, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. Research consistently shows that students with access to professional librarians achieve higher reading and writing scores, and a 2022 Rutgers study showed a higher level of college readiness in academic research skills. Every student deserves access to quality education, including personalized guidance, diverse reading materials, and instruction on essential research and digital literacy skills by certified librarians. As your constituent and an advocate for equitable education, I urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610 to address these disparities and ensure every student receives the resources and support they need to succeed academically. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

School libraries, staffed by certified school librarians, provide essential resources for literacy, research skills, and critical thinking. Students receive personalized guidance, ensuring they can evaluate information and distinguish reliable sources from misinformation. Research consistently shows that schools with certified teacher librarians have higher graduation rates and improved standardized test scores, even after accounting for poverty levels. Additionally, a 2022 Rutgers University study found that students with high school research experience, particularly from schools with certified librarians, perform better in using academic research tools and digital literacy. The inequities in school library services across PA, with 54 districts lacking librarians, and 81 districts grossly understaffed, impact over 100,000 K-12 students. This inequity often impacts our most vulnerable students including those living in poverty, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. Please support HB640 and SB610 requiring certified school librarians in all PA schools to ensure every student receives the education they deserve. Thank you for your consideration.

I'm reaching out to request your support for HB 640 and SB 610, which aim to ensure that all PA schools have a certified librarian on the faculty. Certified librarians offer personalized guidance and access to diverse reading materials crucial for student literacy. Research consistently shows that students with access to professional librarians achieve higher reading and writing scores, and a 2022 Rutgers study revealed higher levels of college readiness in academic research skills. Unfortunately, 54 school districts in PA lacked a librarian in 2020-21, and another 81 employed just one part-time librarian to serve all students. This disproportionately affects vulnerable students including those living in poverty, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. The PA Department of Education supports a library curriculum consisting of 43 standards to foster critical thinking and information literacy. By ensuring certified librarians in all schools, we can guarantee essential services for student success. As your constituent and advocate for quality education, I strongly urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610. Let's empower all students to achieve their full academic potential. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

I am reaching out to emphasize the importance of supporting HB 640 and SB 610, both of which promote the inclusion of certified school librarians in all Pennsylvania schools. Certified librarians play a crucial role in providing tailored support and ensuring access to a wide range of reading materials, which are essential for fostering student literacy. Numerous studies consistently demonstrate that students who have the guidance of professional librarians tend to achieve higher scores in reading and writing. A recent 2022 study conducted by Rutgers University further highlighted that students with access to certified librarians exhibited a higher level of preparedness in academic research skills, enhancing their college readiness. It is concerning to note that in the 2020-21 academic year, 54 school districts in Pennsylvania lacked a librarian, while an additional 81 districts had only one part-time librarian to cater to all students. This inequity disproportionally affects marginalized and vulnerable student populations, including those from low-income backgrounds, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has established 43 library curriculum standards aimed at nurturing critical thinking and information literacy skills among students. By ensuring that all schools have certified librarians, we can provide the necessary support and resources for student success. As your constituent and a strong advocate for quality education, I urge you to lend your support to HB 640 and SB 610. Together, let us empower all students to realize their full academic potential. Thank you for your attention and consideration of this critical issue.

Access to quality education should not be a matter of chance but a fundamental right for every student in PA. School libraries, led by certified school librarians, play a crucial role in providing literacy resources and teaching students to evaluate information critically. The data speaks for itself: schools with certified librarians consistently show higher graduation rates and improved test scores, regardless of economic factors. Furthermore, a recent Rutgers University study highlights the significant impact of certified librarians on students' research skills and digital literacy, key skills for college readiness. The growing inequities in school library services, with 54 districts lacking librarians, and another 81 employing a single part-time professional, highlight the urgent need for legislative action. This inequity often affects our most vulnerable students, including those living in poverty, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. Every student, regardless of their background or zip code, deserves access to a well-stocked library and trained librarian support. Your support for HB640 and SB610 requiring certified school librarians in all PA schools is crucial to ensuring equitable education for all. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

I'm writing to ask for your support for HB 640 and SB 610, which require certified school librarians in all PA schools. Research consistently shows that students with access to professional librarians achieve higher reading and writing scores and a 2022 Rutgers study demonstrated better college readiness in academic research. Sadly, 54 school districts in PA lacked a librarian in 2020-21, with another 81 districts employing one part-time professional to serve all students. This inequity often impacts our most vulnerable students, including those living in poverty, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. Certified librarians provide crucial personalized guidance and access to diverse reading materials essential for student literacy and academic success. The PA Department of Education has supported 43 library curriculum standards to promote critical thinking and information literacy. By ensuring certified librarians in all schools, we can provide essential services for student success. As your constituent and supporter of quality education, I urge your support for HB640 and SB610. Let's empower all students to reach their full academic potential. Thank you for considering this critical issue.

I'm reaching out to urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610, which advocate for certified school librarians in all PA schools. Certified librarians offer personalized guidance and access to diverse reading materials crucial for student literacy. Research consistently shows that students with access to professional librarians achieve higher reading and writing scores, and according to a 2022 Rutgers study, students who work with a certified school librarian demonstrate higher college readiness in academic research skills. Unfortunately, 54 school districts in PA lacked a librarian in 2020-21, and another 81 districts had only one part-time librarian on staff. This inequality disproportionately affects our most vulnerable students including those living in poverty, historically disadvantaged black and brown communities, and English language learners. The PA Department of Education has supported 43 library curriculum standards to foster critical thinking and information literacy. By ensuring certified librarians in all schools, we can guarantee essential services for student success. As your constituent and advocate for quality education, I strongly urge your support for HB 640 and SB 610. Let's empower all students to achieve their full academic potential. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.