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 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:
1 Page Information Sheet on School Libraries:
1 Page Information Sheet to Share with School Administrators
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.
Here is a study showing the specific relationship between change in staffing and fourth-grade 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
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.
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.
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
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
Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) July 2021 newsletter
Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) February 2022 newsletter
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 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.
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.
Advocacy Co-Chair, Past-President 2014,