[LM_NET] NCLB, AASL & ALA

[Sara Kelly Johns <sarakellyjohns@YAHOO.COM>]

Alphabet soup?

No, I was reminded by a post on the AASL Board
listserv that I really meant to post the text of the
resolution on NCLB passed unanimously by ALA Council
at Midwinter in Boston. (at least I don't think I
posted it yet). It was in response to a question about
how to answer questions about AASL's postion on NCLB
by other-than-school librarians on Council.

Since we can't do attachments, I'll paste below the
resolution that was proposed by Nancy Zimmerman, past
AASL President, and seconded Ellen Jay (gee, a past
AASL President, too). As I mentioned, it was passed
unanimously.

AASL has recently sent a brochure written by Doug
Johnson on NCLB to all principals (that they know
about, anyway). It can also be downloaded from the
AASL homepage: <www.ala.org/aasl>

AASL sponsored the Fall Forum on the school
librarian's role in teaching reading as one response
to the NCLB empahsis on raising teaching scores. It
had lots of answers to the question of how the library
program can make a difference.

Currently, the Leadership Forum Planning Committee is
planning the second regional institute and it will
also be on the topic of how the library program can
make a difference in raising the level of literacy
through our  skills and expertise. It should be ready
to be licensed and to travel by 2006 if all goes well
(OK, I'm the chair of that committee and it's my job
to worry. But what a great committee:  Jo Ellen
Misakian is Board liasion and works as hard as anyone
on the committee; Mary Lou Bayless, Vi Harada, Shirley
Rogers, Elaine Twogood. They're great! Jennifer Locke,
AASL Deputy Director is working hard with our
committee, too.).

Hope this info helps you answer the question that has
come up: "What are school librarians and school
library media programs doing to help raise reading
levels?" LOTS! We're working to identify what we
already do well, add more strategies and skills to
collaborate better with reading instructors and
helping students to love reading.

There will also be many strong programs at the AASL
conference on our role in reading.

Best, Sara Johns

Resolution:

 ALA Resolution on School Libraries and the No Child
Left Behind Act

WHEREAS, all library advocates should support quality
school library media programs which are critical to
the development of literacy skills of citizens in the
21st Century;

WHEREAS, with strong bipartisan support the nation
embarked on an ambitious school reform plan entitled
the No Child Left Behind Act (P.L. 107-110) to set
high standards for all students and require that there
be a “highly qualified” teacher in every classroom;

WHEREAS, school libraries are critical partners in
ensuring that states and school districts meet the
reading requirements of No Child Left Behind;

WHEREAS, multiple research studies, more than 60 since
1965, have affirmed that there is a clear link between
school library media programs, staffed by a
state-certified school library media specialist, and
student achievement;

WHEREAS, despite the vital role school libraries play
in helping meet those requirements, No Child Left
Behind is silent when it comes to the qualifications
of those individuals in charge of our school
libraries;

WHEREAS, 25 percent of America’s school libraries do
not have a state-certified library media specialist;

WHEREAS, funding formulas under No Child Left Behind
neglect books and materials that support reading and
learning;

WHEREAS, the American Library Association recognizes
the link between quality school library media programs
and student achievement in reading;

BE IT RESOLVED; that the American Library Association
communicate through a letter from the President of ALA
to the United States Congress, all members of
congressional committees related to education,
President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush,
and the incoming Secretary of the Department of
Education the important relationship between quality
school library media programs and student achievement;


AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Library
Association direct the ALA Committee on Legislation to
work with the ALA Washington Office to continue to
lobby for the inclusion of school library standards of
quality and expanded equitable funding in the revised
No Child Left Behind legislation.

Submitted January 17, 2005 by Nancy Zimmerman,
Councilor-at- Large
Seconded by Ellen Jay, Councilor-at-Large

Reviewed and endorsed by the ALA Legislative
Committee, January 17, 2005

Approved by the ALA Council, January 18, 2005



=====
Lake Placid Middle/Senior HS LMC
250 Main Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
518-523-2474, ext. 4132
FAX: 518-523-4861
johns@northnet.org
SaraKJohns@aol.com

"Information is the currency of democracy." -- Thomas Jefferson

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