Happy New Year to All! The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is again asking for input on their ESSA Implementation Plan with Stakeholder Feedback Surveys. The deadline for responding to these surveys is Monday, January 16th. ALA and AASL worked diligently to ensure that the school library provisions (http://bit.ly/ESSAlib) were included in ESSA; yet, each state has autonomy in how they implement these provisions. MAME has been actively involved with MDE through a seat on the state ESSA Tactical Review Committee as well as holding an ESSA Focus Group with MDE at MAME’s annual conference. However, it is* important for the MDE to hear about the importance of effective school libraries to student achievement in our state from multiple voices.* Thus, your support and action is needed now! Go to the MDE ESSA ‘Get Involved’ Page <http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-37818_76731_76735---,00.html> and select one of the four options to provide your input. It is important that your input be provided in your own words. Please personalize your responses. [On the previous survey, MDE counted similar responses as one response.] The public survey is divided into five sections. Talking points for four of the sections are provided below. If you have any questions, please let us know. THANK YOU for your support! Kathy Lester MAME Advocacy Chair Lisa Kelly MAME President, 2017 TALKING POINTS FOR ESSA PUBLIC SURVEY OPTION 1. Accountability: 1. In question #8: Which of the following items are among the most important types of information to have when trying to figure out the quality of a school?; please check the option: The presence of librarians/media specialists in the school 1. Supports: 1. In applicable “other comments” sections of questions in this area include comments about the fact that school library media specialists provide necessary support for student achievement including possible facts such as: 1. An effective school library program positively affects the entire climate and culture of a school. 2. An effective school library program offers equitable access to resources to ensure a well-rounded education for every student. 3. An effective school library program provides personalized learning environments for every student. 4. Multiple studies in over 20 states, including Michigan, show that schools with a school library staffed by a full-time certified teaching school librarian* have a high impact on increasing student achievement regardless of socio-economic or education levels of the community. 5. Include other statement/fact of your own or from this list: http://bit.ly/ESSAlibev 2. In applicable “other comments” sections of questions in this area suggest that MDE should require or strongly recommend the Title I ESSA School Library Provision that all school districts include in their plans how they will “assist schools in developing effective school library programs to provide students an opportunity to develop digital literacy skills and improve academic achievement.” 1. Supports for Special Populations: 1. Include in your comments the fact that studies have shown that students who are economically disadvantaged, black, Hispanic, or have disabilities benefit proportionally more than general students from the presence of a full-time certified school library media specialist. 2. Teacher & Leader Quality: 1. In applicable ‘other’ areas include comments how school library media specialists provide support to teachers for high quality instruction and also provide quality professional development including possible comments such as: 1. School library media specialists support classroom teachers through providing high quality resources for their instruction. 2. School library media specialists support classroom teachers by collaborating or co-teaching with them to provide high quality instruction. 3. School library media specialists provide professional development onsite and just-in-time for staff in their buildings. 4. School library media specialists customize/personalize the professional development and resources to meet the needs of their staff and their students, including differentiating instruction. 2. In applicable ‘other’ areas include suggestion that MDE should provide professional development to administrators to understand the components of an effective school library program (as defined by "SL21 Measurement Benchmarks for Michigan School Libraries for 21st Century Schools" (www.michigan.gov/sl21)) and how an effective program positively impacts student achievement. Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA *Advocacy Chair, Past-President 2014* Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) *School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach* East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools *2012 **State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner* kathyL@mimame.org 810.333.5873