Why School Library Media Specialists Need to be in the Reauthorization of NCLB

Just within the last two days I received in my email three examples of how school librarians and school libraries -- not to mention our students -- are suffering at the hand of NCLB. We must continue to rally and tell our stories to Congress, so we will be included in the reauthorization of NCLB so this will STOP. I have omitted names and parts of the original text, but no change in the issue. If you read LM_Net or AASLForum, you have see the first example. To help with clarification, my words are in italics.

EXAMPLE 1
“. . .Title IIA, federal funds for Professional Development, will not pay for librarians' conferences or training. I recently applied for funding to go to AASL, . . .I am very unhappy about the situation. . . .21st Century Learning, which mediates Title IIA funds for the. . archdiocese sent my principal the following e-mail: “. . . I am not able to approve your request for Title IIA funds for the American Association of School Librarians Conference because Title IIA guidelines very specifically detail that the funds are to be used for sustained professional development for teachers and administrators. Training must be focused on improving student achievement in core academic areas or on improving instructional strategies or classroom management techniques. . .Perhaps it's time to send protests to your legislators. I certainly will. Perhaps you should do so too"

And here is the great response from a member of the AASL NCLB Task Force. "Thank you for this very real example of how teacher-librarians are affected by the provisions of NCLB. When you call your representatives to protest, make sure that you ask them to co-sponsor the SKILLs Act (HR 2864/S 1699). This legislation will amend NCLB to include teacher-librarians for consideration for Title IIA funding. As. . .stated, teacher-librarians are not currently considered part of the "core academic areas" and therefore ineligible for these funds under the current provisions of NCLB. The successful passage of the SKILLs Act will change this. Don't just protest, make sure you ask your reps to co-sponsor the SKILLs Act!"

Teacher-librarians might not be considered part of the "core academic areas" but the skills we teach and the collaboration we do with the core academic teachers certainly focus on improving student achievement in the core areas as in all areas of our students education. And even if not considered to be approved by that criteria the sessions at the AASL Conference in Reno the end of October, all focus on improving instructional strategies -- or even classroom management techniques. It is unbelievable that those making the decision do not understand this! Help us change this!

Example 2
"NCLB seems to be taking a toll on school library media specialist positions. The most recent disaster has been the dismantling of the Department of School Libraries in Pennsylvania. This Department was moved into the Pennsylvania State Library many years ago with school librarians kicking and screaming because it was no longer in Curriculum and Instruction. However, the State Library in PA is a part of the Department of Education and they were able to mix ESEA and LSTA funds to do marvelous things like hire additional staff using LSTA funds.The Department grew exercising strong leadership under first Doris Epler (who helped create the state-wide database for all types of libraries) and then John Emerick who worked to create the Power Library. Their resource center was one of the finest in the nation. A governor's (former mayor of Philadelphia) made an appointment of a State Education Department Director who saw how good the resource center was to answer questions and moved the staff into his public relations department. Only one other person remains and they aren't sure this person will be able to go out to libraries as the staff have been doing previously. Only one person is left to go out to talk with superintendents and principals when they decide to do without a school librarian."

Having known John Emerick and worked with some outstanding school library media specialists in Pennsylvania, I know what the Department has been able to accomplished in the past years. It appears that Pennsylvania like many other states is doing away with the school library media department -- or making it so small that it is extremely ineffective. Evidence of the lack of understanding of what school libraries and school librarians do to increase student achievement and improve reading skills. Without being in NCLB we are looked at as an easy place to cut budgets to apply to what is mandated.

Example 3
"In California, a recent discussion has revolved around a principal who put the reading teacher in charge of the elementary school library -- not even with a library technician. The reading teacher immediately rearranged the library by Accelerated Reader levels.

This is happening more and more. Many school libraries are operated by someone without a degree -- a parent volunteer or an aide. NCLB calls for literacy coaches as well as technology people -- both of which fall into the arena of school library media specialists -- yet others are being hired with little to no recognition of the work school library media specialists do to increase student achievement.