Charters and Legislation for Schools

Concern: Oklahoma Association of School Library Media Specialists (OASLMS) is concerned about the development of charters and/or other governing contracts or legislation for schools and school districts which can impact school library media centers.

Action: This concern was approved by the Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee and forwarded to the Assembly for review where it was combined with job loss concerns from Regions 2, 8, and 9.

Concern: The elimination of school librarians allows for the elimination of library programs and the exemption of school librarians from statutory requirements. This lowers standards and compromises the quality of school library programs and adversely affects student achievement.

Action: The AASL Board responded:

• AASL continues to work with the ALA Washington Office on passing the SKILLS Act.
• Anne Eubank was asked to review the Instructional Classification toolkit for any necessary updates.
• Partnering with other organizations to support the role of LMS in instructional programs is part of the L4L initiative.
• The Crisis Toolkit is in place and addresses the elimination of school librarians and programs and felt an additional white paper on the topic was not necessary.

National Accreditation Standards Classification

Concern: Librarians need to be included in the regional/national accreditation standards as essential instructional staff, rather than support or administrative staff.

Action: Pending.

Job Elimination and NCES

Concern: The elimination of school librarian jobs and the continuance of NCES classification of school librarians as 'support staff' rather than 'instructional staff.'

Action: This concern was approved by the Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee and forwarded to the Assembly for review where it was combined with job loss concerns from Regions 6, 8, and 9.

Concern: The elimination of school librarians allows for the elimination of library programs and the exemption of school librarians from statutory requirements. This lowers standards and compromises the quality of school library programs and adversely affects student achievement.

Action: The AASL Board responded:

• AASL continues to work with the ALA Washington Office on passing the SKILLS Act.
• Anne Eubank was asked to review the Instructional Classification toolkit for any necessary updates.
• Partnering with other organizations to support the role of LMS in instructional programs is part of the L4L initiative.
• The Crisis Toolkit is in place and addresses the elimination of school librarians and programs and felt an additional white paper on the topic was not necessary.

Position Classification for Federal Funding

Concern: The United States Department of Education’s federal accounting structure is outdated. Listing 'library services' as 'instructional support staff' instead of 'instructional staff' puts teacher librarian positions in risk of elimination due to the demand to increase classroom spending.

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee approved the Concern and sent it to the Affiliate Assembly for review. The Assembly chose to combine the concern with funding concerns from Regions 2, 3, and 5. The final concern passed to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: The United States Department of Education’s federal accounting structure is outdated. Listing 'library services' as 'instructional support staff' instead of 'instructional staff' puts teacher librarian positions in risk of elimination due to the demand to increase classroom spending.

Action: The AASL Board responded by contacting the ALA Washington Office for fact finding.

Funding

Concern: Continued funding problems for school libraries in every state in Region 5.

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee approved the Concern and sent it to the Affiliate Assembly for review. The Assembly chose to combine the concern with funding concerns from Regions 2, 3, and 7. The final concern passed to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: The United States Department of Education’s federal accounting structure is outdated. Listing 'library services' as 'instructional support staff' instead of 'instructional staff' puts teacher librarian positions in risk of elimination due to the demand to increase classroom spending.

Action: The AASL Board responded by contacting the ALA Washington Office for fact finding.

Value of the School Librarian

Concern: The position of school library media specialist is threatened by the failure of school levies and the greater dependence of school districts on dwindling state funds. Also, the perception among administrators that the job can be done by minimally trained staff.

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee approved the Concern and sent it to the Affiliate Assembly for review. The Assembly chose to combine the concern with funding concerns from Regions 2, 5, and 7. The final concern passed to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: The United States Department of Education’s federal accounting structure is outdated. Listing 'library services' as 'instructional support staff' instead of 'instructional staff' puts teacher librarian positions in risk of elimination due to the demand to increase classroom spending.

Action: The AASL Board responded by contacting the ALA Washington Office for fact finding.

Impact of Federal Funding Cuts

Concern: The impact on school library media programs by cuts to federal funding (Title V) and the total elimination of the Enhancing Education through Technology program (Title II-D, EEET).

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee approved the Concern and sent it to the Affiliate Assembly for review. The Assembly chose to combine the concern with funding concerns from Regions 3, 5, and 7.

Revised Concern: The United States Department of Education’s federal accounting structure is outdated. Listing 'library services' as 'instructional support staff' instead of 'instructional staff' puts teacher librarian positions in risk of elimination due to the demand to increase classroom spending.

Action: The AASL Board responded by contacting the ALA Washington Office for fact finding.