2016 Concern- Accredidation

2016 Concern- Accredidation

Concern: North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (now part of AdvancED, an international education accreditation organization, http://www.advanc-ed.org/services/accreditation) has removed the requirement for school librarians as part of their school evaluation process. Yet, their criteria for quality schools and school improvement still show the importance of the librarian. (http://www.advanc-ed.org/source/using-digital-tools-help-transform-schools). In fact, Mooresville, NC used as an example, has placed a high importance on staffing their schools with certified teacher-librarians who lead school improvement efforts, as well as technology and digital skills integration. School librarians are essential to school improvement, especially when navigating new technologies and digital literacies.

We believe that the removal of the certified school librarian requirement has allowed school districts to eliminate these important positions, thus taking away a resource that transforms schools and improves student achievement and college & career readiness.

Action Requested: We request that AASL work with AdvancED to reinstate the requirement for a certified school librarian in their evaluation criteria.

We believe the display of such a badge could encourage and promote

participation in further efforts requiring advocacy for school libraries and

librarians.

Status: The Affiliate Assembly body approved this concern. It was sent to the AASL Board.  Board voted to create K-12 Regional Accrediting Agency Task Force.

• Identify K-12 regional accrediting agencies
• Review accrediting agencies policies for mention of school libraries and school librarians
• Submit recommendations for potential follow-up to Board of Directors no later than 2017 ALA Annual

Managing Multiple Libraries

Concern: As positions for school librarians continue to be reduced, we are concerned that many of them are being forced to manage multiple libraries, multiple roles, and/or large student populations who have little or no support staff. Given these constraints, they need resources to assist them as they try to schedule their limited time to fulfill their roles and implement the AASL learning standards and program guidelines as they contribute to improving student achievement.

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee and it was sent to the the Affiliate Assembly body. The Affiliate Assembly body did not approve this concern.

Tool for Using Test Data

Concern: Evaluation of school librarians is increasingly being tied to student test scores; for example, in Tennessee, 50% of all professional evaluations will be directly tied to student achievement data beginning in 2011-2012. This will effect decisions in tenure, pay raises, job retention, etc. Librarians need a tool to help in desegregating and using test data to make a connection between their library programs and student achievement.

Action: The concern was approved by the Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee and forwarded to the Assembly for review where it was combined with a concern from Region 2. The Affiliate Assembly body approved sending the revised concern to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: Many states are investigating merit based pay for teachers based on performance evaluations and student achievement data. We are concerned that librarians are not adequately represented in these discussions.

Action: The AASL Board responded that this is an issue best handled on a state-by-state basis since each state's requirements are different. Members are encouraged to work with their state departments of education. Resources are available:

• The 2009 Fall Forum focused on assessment
• Knowledge Quest articles
• Empowering Learners, the AASL learning standards/Common Core Crosswalk, and the AASL lesson plan database.
• TRAILS: Tools for Real-time Assessment of Information Literacy Skills
  

Education Reform and Classification

Concern: While states rush to put in place educational reforms that will qualify them for federal Race to the Top grants, many are proposing systems of merit pay to reward "highly effective teachers." We are concerned that these proposals, since they are hurried, may not fairly and adequately consider the role of school librarians, whose curricula are generally not assessed on state tests, and who do not have direct impact on the test scores of a specific group of students.

Action: The concern was approved by the Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee and forwarded to the Assembly for review where it was combined with a concern from Region 4. The Affiliate Assembly body approved sending the revised concern to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: Many states are investigating merit based pay for teachers based on performance evaluations and student achievement data. We are concerned that librarians are not adequately represented in these discussions.

Action: The AASL Board responded that this is an issue best handled on a state-by-state basis since each state's requirements are different. Members are encouraged to work with their state departments of education. Resources are available:

• The 2009 Fall Forum focused on assessment
• Knowledge Quest articles
• Empowering Learners, the AASL learning standards/Common Core Crosswalk, and the AASL lesson plan database.
• TRAILS: Tools for Real-time Assessment of Information Literacy Skills
  

Role of SL in NET Standards

Concern: NET Standards are imbedded in NCLB but do not show the essential role of the library media specialist in implementation and student achievement of those standards.

Action: Both the Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee and the Assembly body approved the concern. Plans for a joint working group with ISTE were made and matrix identifying the role of the SLMS in implementation and student achievement of NETS was deferred until after publication of the standards and guidelines.