[LM_NET] upcoming 65% rule for instructional expenses in Texas

[Marcia Zorn <mgzorn@COMCAST.NET>]

Texas school library media specialists are anxiously awaiting the imminent 
publication of the Texas Education Agency's rule which will give directions 
for implementing our governor's executive order that 65%  of school district 
funds be expended for "instructional purposes," as defined by the National 
Center for Education Statistics.

Although library media specialists and library media resources have been 
INCLUDED for many years as "instructional services" in the Texas Financial
Accountability System, these services are EXCLUDED from the National Center
for Education Statistics' definition of "instruction."

The very narrow definition that NCES uses to define "instruction" has not been
updated since 1957.  (Please see the LM_NET archive for a November ’05 reply 
from Frank Johnson of NCES to a question from Laurie Bell.) 

Of course we all know how much our profession has evolved since 1957!  
The outdated NCES definition does not acknowledge how much library media
specialists and library media resources can directly enhance the quality of 
instruction for every student in every classroom of a school.  Our library media
centers are indeed classrooms, and as school library media specialists we 
indeed teach all of our students. 

A website has been created by a group of retired and active Texas
library media specialists to help explain this issue, and to provide
information on how to contact the key decision makers. Please take a
moment to look at our website:

http://geocities.com/txschlibrarian/ 

We welcome your suggestions for enhancing our website. Please feel
free to use any information on the website that would help you with
this issue in your own state, as First Class Education's goal is to
implement the same plan in all 50 states by 2008. First Class Education
promotes using the NCES definition for instructional resources, and more
information is available at their website: www.firstclasseducation.org.

Thanks so much for your time and assistance!

Marcia Garman Zorn
Library Media Specialist
Shady Oaks Elementary School
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
Hurst, Texas
mgzorn@comcast.net



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