California Library Literacy And English Acquisition Services Program - Libraries - CA Education

Section § 18880

The California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program is set up to help reduce illiteracy for both children and adults by providing English language instruction through public libraries. This includes teaching basic English skills like speaking, reading, and writing. The program is managed by the California State Library, which distributes funds to local libraries that effectively provide these services. Local libraries can choose how to use their funding for literacy services as described in another section. The State Library also offers technical help to local libraries, depending on available resources.

(a) The California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program is hereby established within the California State Library as a public library program designed to reduce illiteracy among children and adults by providing English language literacy instruction and related services to native and nonnative English speaking youth and adults residing in California. For purposes of this article, “English language literacy instruction” means the development of basic skills of speaking, reading, and writing in the English language.

(b) The California State Library shall allocate funds appropriated in the Budget Act for the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program to local library jurisdictions that are effectively providing literacy services.

(c) At local discretion, jurisdictions may use their allocation from the State Literacy Program for any of the services described in Section 18881.

(d) The California State Library shall provide local jurisdictions with technical assistance to the extent that resources are available for this purpose.

California Library Literacy English language instruction illiteracy reduction public libraries literacy services local library funding technical assistance native English speakers nonnative English speakers basic English skills California State Library

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 573, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2004.)

Section § 18881

This law establishes a program for public libraries in California to help improve literacy and English language skills for adults, youth, and families not enrolled in school. Libraries can provide adult literacy classes and must evaluate participants based on state guidelines. They should create community awareness, cooperate with local literacy groups, recruit volunteers, and ensure consistent local funding. For preventing illiteracy, libraries offer services to families with young children, focusing on early reading skills and parent involvement, with meetings in library settings. The program includes activities like storytelling and reading guidance for parents to encourage family participation and support child literacy. Libraries may also work with schools for literacy services for students and families.

The California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program for public libraries may be used for any of the following:

(a)

(1) Services designed to reduce adult illiteracy by providing English language literacy instruction and related services to adults and youth who are not enrolled in school. A participating public library may establish an adult literacy instructional program that provides adult basic literacy instruction and related services. Participant learning shall be evaluated on the basis of statewide guidelines established by the State Librarian.

(2) The public library shall do all of the following in establishing and implementing the program:

(A) Seek community and local government awareness of and support for the program and develop a local commitment of resources for the program’s continuation.

(B) Develop cooperative relationships with other local literacy service providers and participate in existing community adult literacy coalitions, in order to address the wide variety of literacy needs of the community and ensure an effective utilization of resources. The public library shall assist in the establishment of a community adult literacy coalition if none currently exists.

(D) Certify that the local jurisdiction will provide the same level of local and private fiscal support as it did in the preceding fiscal year.

(b)

(1) Services to prevent illiteracy through coordinated literacy and preliteracy services to families that include illiterate adults and young children. The program shall provide reading preparation services for young children in public library settings and shall instruct parents in reading to their children. In addition, the program shall provide technical assistance, parent support, and any resources and materials necessary for its implementation.

(2) A public library implementing this service shall meet all of the following requirements:

(A) Offer new services to families with young children with the goal of helping the children become successful readers by increasing their general competence, self-confidence, and positive emotional associations with reading as a family experience and familiarity with the lifelong use of library resources. Recruitment of parents not previously included in public library literacy programs is a high priority.

(B) Families eligible for the program shall include, but not be limited to, those with young children up to the age of five years.

(D) The public library literacy program staff and children’s services staff shall work in close coordination with the State Library in administering the program to assure maximum integration of literacy services to parents and preliteracy services to their children.

(3) Services offered by a public library under this subdivision shall include the following:

(A) Acquisition of books, of appropriate reading levels for, and containing subjects of interest to, children for ownership by young children of families participating in the program.

(B) Regular meetings of parents and children in public library settings during hours that are suitable for parents and their children.

(D) Use of children’s books and language experience stories from the meetings as material for adult literacy instruction.

(E) Instruction for parents in book selection and reading aloud to children.

(F) Services to enhance full family participation and to foster a family environment conducive to reading.

(G) Assistance to parents in using services in order to access books and other materials on such topics as parenting, child care, health, nutrition, and family life education.

(H) Other services, as necessary to enable families to participate in the program.

(c) Services for pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and their families in local English language learner and literacy programs. Local libraries may offer year-round literacy and English language tutoring in collaboration with nonprofit and other local organizations.

adult literacy English language instruction community awareness local literacy coalitions volunteer tutoring early reading skills family literacy services parental involvement storytelling book selection reading aloud community support literacy prevention English learners library programs

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 573, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2004.)

Section § 18883

This law mandates that local libraries must use funds they get under this program specifically for offering English language and literacy services. Additionally, at least 90% of these funds must be spent directly on these services and the materials needed for them.

A local library shall ensure that funds received pursuant to this chapter are exclusively used for expenses resulting from providing English language and literacy services and shall ensure that at least 90 percent of the funds received for the program are expended on direct services and related materials.

local libraries English language services literacy services fund use direct services related materials program funding fund allocation expense restrictions educational services requirements library funding regulations financial accountability service funding compliance

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 573, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2004.)