[LM_NET] SHARE: FL Senate Education Appropriations Proposed Bill

[Joanne Seale <books4me@EARTHLINK.NET>]

With the recent messages about state funding, I thought I would share an
item with you that is in the Florida Senate's proposed bill for next
year's education appropriation. Notice the last sentence where it states
that a report will be provided that containes teachers' opinions of the
effectiveness of online library services compared to the onsite school
library, and an analysis of the cost effectiveness of the online library
compared with the onsite library. I heard about this item during the
week, and the general opinion is that Questia is the most likely online
service to be provided. It is hard for me to believe that the Florida
legislature is looking at the possibility of replacing high school
libraries with Questia or some like site. This is in spite of the fact
that Florida conducted a study two years ago, with the assistance of
Keith Curry Lance, which had the same results as ALL of the other
studies that strong school library programs with certified library media
specialists positively affect student achievement. Where has common
sense gone?

FLORIDA SENATE - 2005 (PROPOSED COMMITTEE BILL) SPB 7068 FOR
CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS 6A. "Funds
provided in Specific Appropriation 6A are provided for an Electronic
On-line Library Pilot Project for high schools. The pilot shall consist
of at least three school districts; including one large, one medium, and
one small. All districts shall be provided information about this pilot
project and shall be given the opportunity to indicate whether they wish
to participate. From the districts expressing a desire to participate,
the Department of Education shall make the final selection of the pilot
districts. The department shall request providers of Electronic On-line
Libraries for high school students to submit proposals for conducting a
pilot project in Florida. From the proposals received, representatives
from the participating school districts and the department shall jointly
agree which of the proposals are deemed to be most appropriate to be
piloted in Florida’s high schools. The pilot project shall be designed
to include an independent assessment of the cost effectiveness of
Electronic On-line Library services for high school student instruction.
Representatives of the pilot school districts and the department shall
provide to the Governor and the Legislature, by December 31, 2006, a
report containing a summary of the pilot project; conclusions about its
impact on student instruction; teachers’ opinions of the effectiveness
compared to the on-site school library; an analysis of the cost
effectiveness of the on-line library compared with the on-site library;
recommendations for funding the on-line library within existing funding;
and guidance for any school district that may wish to consider providing
its students access to on-line library services."

Discouraged in Florida,
Joanne Seale, LMS
Space Coast Jr/Sr HS
Cocoa, FL
books4me@earthlink.net

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