[Michlib-l] Follow-Up MI Library Advocacy Day: School Library Breakout Session

[Lester, Kathy]

Thank you to MLA, MAME, and Mi-ALA for an excellent Michigan Library
Advocacy Day yesterday!

Thank you to those who attended the information session on school
libraries!  I promised to send some follow-up information based on
questions during the session.  I did not have a list of attendees -- so, I
hope you don't mind that I am sending this to the listserv.  The
information provided may be useful for all.  Thank you so much to the
Michigan Library Community for their support for strong school libraries in
our state!

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information.
--Kathy Lester

FOLLOW-UP FROM MI LIBRARY ADVOCACY DAY - SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Here is some follow-up from yesterday’s School Library Information Breakout
during today’s Michigan’s School Library Event.  Attendees asked for links
to the slides and information shared.  They also asked about data showing
the impact of school librarians.  I included several documents with links
to specific studies. Also, I had mentioned that there has been *more money*
coming to Michigan Schools.  Thus, school districts can prioritize properly
staffing and support for their students through their school libraries.
I’ve included information about staffing guidelines. I’ve also
included the newsletter
items from the Michigan School Board, Superintendents, and Secondary
Principal Associations recommending to districts that now is the time to be
investing in school libraries.  I’ve included a link to the statement from
the Governor’s Educator Advisory Council which was mentioned during the
breakout session.  Finally, I’ve included information about recommendations
from the School Finance Research Collaborative (SFRC) about school funding
including a recommendation for 1 library media specialist (certified school
librarian) per school.

MAME’s hope is that public librarians will support the library ecosystem by
supporting the AASL definition
<https://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/advocacy/statements/docs/AASL_Position_Statement_Effective_SLP_2018.pdf>
of an effective school library with a certified school librarian at each
school.  Michigan students deserve the equity of access and experience
provided by an effective school library staffed by a certified school
librarian within their school.  We can do better than being 47th in the
nation in supporting our students through effective school libraries.
Public librarians are welcome to share the 1-page information sheet for
school administrators (below) with their local school districts.

Link to Slides:

bit.ly/MIslibp

1 Page Information Sheet on School Libraries:

bit.ly/MIslib2022

1 Page Information Sheet to Share with School Administrators

bit.ly/MIslib1admin

Evidence to Support the Need for Certified School Librarians

Here is a document with evidence related to reading achievement, graduation
rate, ACT scores, college success, access to books, support for technology
integration, information literacy skills, motivation and engagement in
reading.

bit.ly/evidSLib

Here is a study showing the specific relationship between change in
staffing and fourth-grade reading scores.

https://www.slj.com/story/something-to-shout-about-new-research-shows-that-more-librarians-means-higher-reading-scores

Using federal data on the 50 states and DC, they examined the relationship
between pre- and post-recession change in school library staffing and
change in fourth grade reading scores. Not only was the fate of reading
scores tied to that of school library staffing, but the relationship
remained when change in overall school staffing was taken into account.

ALA Infographic: Students Reach Greater Heights with School Librarians

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/stateandlocal/School%20Librarians%20v2.pdf

This infographic from ALA includes additional links to information and data
related to student achievement, access to resources, instructional
technology support, safe spaces, information literacy instruction.

The Baltimore Library Project which was supported by the Harry and Jeanette
Weinberg Foundation made sure that a certified school librarian was in
place at any renovated school library and funding was included for
professional development of the librarians.  They found:

   -

   Book checkouts increased by 400 percent over a four-year period
   -

   Reading fluency scores among third grade students in two of the first
   Library Project Schools rose from 33 percent of students at benchmark to 64
   percent at benchmark.
   -

   Library Project students in the third grade were almost three times as
   likely to meet reading fluency proficiency standards as students in
   comparison schools.
   -

   The first three Library Project schools outperformed more than 120
   Baltimore City Public Schools on PARCC tests in reading proficiency.

http://www.baltimorelibraryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2017/03/Library-Project-One-Sheet-2017.pdf

Staffing guidelines for Michigan School Libraries

Michigan Department of Education guidance on school library staffing:
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Library_Media_Placements_606360_7.PDF

Library of Michigan SL21 School Library Benchmarks which call for at least
a part-time certified school librarian in a building to have a qualified
school library.

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/libraryofmichigan/lm_school_libraries_SL_21_measures_2018_653912_7.pdf

Support from other organizations for a certified school librarian at every
school

17 organizations signed-on to support a request for a hearing on the School
Library Bills HB4663, HB4664, HB4665

bit.ly/SLsignon



MASA, MASSP, and MASB all have had articles with the message "Now is the
time to invest in your school library":

Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA) October
2021 newsletter
<http://gomasa.org/2021/10/11/investing-in-school-libraries-theyre-more-than-just-a-quiet-space/>

Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) July 2021
newsletter <https://massp.com/news/investing-in-school-libraries>

Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) February 2022 newsletter
<https://masb.org/supporting-your-students-and-staff-by-investing-in-school-libraries-2.aspx?_zs=tWWaa1&_zl=OLvA8>

The Governor’s Educator Advisory Council asks the Governor to support and
promote proper funding of the bills HB 4663, HB 4664, and HB 4665 (the
School Library Bills).

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/GEAC_Recommendation_Support_for_Librarians_714077_7.pdf

SFRC

The School Finance Research Collaborative (SFRC) conducted a study in 2018
to determine the true cost of educating students in Michigan.  The study
recommended a 'weighted formula' - ie more money based on needs such as
high poverty, special education & EL students.  The school aid budget from
this school year and the recommended budget for next school year has been
trying to move toward this model.  This model has a recommendation
<https://www.fundmischools.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SFRCOnePagerStudentSupport_21219.pdf>
for 1 library media specialist (certified school librarian) per school and
$20.00 per pupil for library materials.

The School Finance Research Collaborative Report can be found here:
https://www.fundmischools.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/School-Finance-Research-Collaborative-Report.pdf
<https://www.fundmischools.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/School-Finance-Research-Collaborative-Report.pdf>
.

Michigan has been moving toward this model of funding, so school districts
should be able to begin to afford a certified school librarian.  Yet,
school districts must make this a priority.  There is the example of the
Plymouth Canton Community School District – they have a full-time certified
school librarian in each school; yet have always received the minimum
per-student funding from the state.

Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
*Advocacy Co-Chair, Past-President 2014, *
Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME)
*President-Elect, 2021-2022*
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
*Councilor At Large*
American Library Association (ALA)
*School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach, *
*East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools*
*SL21 Model Library, 2017-2018*
*SL21 Exemplary Ranking - Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century
2019-2022*
*ISTE Making IT Happen Award Winner*
*2017 MAME Michigan School Library Program of the Year*
*2012 **State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner*
kathyL at mimame.org
twitter: @LibraryL <https://twitter.com/LibraryL>
810.333.5873

"Every school librarian is a leader; every learner has a school librarian"
--American Association of School Librarians
<http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/advocacy/tools/docs/AASL_Position_Statement_Effective_SLP_2018.pdf>
 (AASL)
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