ALA Resolution on the Instructional Classification of School Librarians

-- School Library Journal, 1/26/2006

2005-2006 ALA CD#35
2006 ALA Midwinter Meeting

This resolution was adopted by the ALA Council, Sunday, January 22, 2006,
San Antonio, TX

ALA Resolution on the Instructional Classification of School Librarians

WHEREAS, School libraries are classrooms in which school librarians teach and students and teachers learn-–where students read, utilize print, non-print, and technology resources, and learn to use information for projects and reports efficiently, effectively, and ethically, with the goal of developing lifelong learning and literacy skills and strategies; and

WHEREAS, Multiple research studies, more than 60 since 1965, have affirmed that there is a clear link between school library media programs staffed by state-certified school librarians and increased student achievement (Library Research Services Web site at http://www.lrs.org/impact.asp); and

WHEREAS, School librarians are recognized by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) as teachers whose teaching can be measured to meet standards for professional teaching excellence and by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science as teachers who are critically important for student achievement (http://www.nclis.gov/info/schoollibraryactivities.html); and

WHEREAS, School librarians are teachers who serve as crucial partners in ensuring that states and school districts meet the reading requirements that are part of No Child Left Behind (P.L. 107-110); and

WHEREAS, In Part B, Subpart 1, Section 1208 of No Child Left Behind (P.L. 107-110), Instructional Staff is defined as "principals, teachers, supervisors of instruction, librarians, and school library media specialists"; and

WHEREAS,Despite the vital role school librarians play as teachers and collaborators with classroom teachers, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) classifies school librarians as instructional support staff rather than instructional staff; and

WHEREAS, No Child Left Behind and NCES conflict in their classification of school librarians; and

WHEREAS, Educational researchers stress that policymakers should recognize the limitations and negative effects of using only the NCES-defined category of "Instruction Expenditures" without including "Instructional Staff Support Services" for determining classroom instruction expenditures (See the Standard and Poor's report in School Matters entitled "The Issues and Implications of the “65 Percent Solution"; and

WHEREAS, Since 1985, there has been a decrease in library expenditures per student (See Fifty Years of Supporting Children’s Learning: A History of Public School Libraries and Federal Legislation from 1953 to 2000 at http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/2005311.pdf), resulting in fewer up-to-date, quality resources at a time when students are being encouraged to read more, not less; and

WHEREAS, Failure to classify school librarians as instructional staff and to recognize the impact of state-certified school librarians on student achievement, especially in reading, may result in a critical loss of funding for library positions and resources and a dangerous deterioration of library services for our nation's children; and

WHEREAS, ALA must take the lead role over the next several years to communicate with state and national government leaders about the importance of, and the role played by, school librarians in student achievement; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Council of the American Library Association directs the ALA Executive Director to communicate annually through a letter to the Governors of every state the critical need for them to demonstrate their commitment to quality education for every child by including school libraries in all state education priorities and rejecting publicly any policy that would dismantle school libraries and reduce or eliminate the staffing of those libraries by state-certified school librarians; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Council of the American Library Association directs the American Library Association School Libraries Task Force and the ALA Executive Director to communicate through a letter to all legislators of every state that is considering the “65 Percent Solution” legislation the vital importance of including “Instructional Staff Support Services” with “Instruction Expenditures” in determining the percentage spent on “classroom instruction”; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Council of the American Library Association directs the ALA President to communicate through a letter the important relationship between staff classifications and funding as related to school libraries to: President George W. Bush; all members of the United States Congress; U. S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings; National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Commissioner Mark Schneider; NCES Education Finance Task Force Chair Linda Champion; and all chief officers of state education agencies and state library agencies; and, be it further

RESOLVED,That the Council of the American Library Association directs the ALA Committee on Legislation to work with the ALA Washington Office to request that the NCES issue an interpretation that recognizes the teaching role of school librarians and includes librarian salaries and library resources as essential additional components to “Instruction Expenditures”’ until reauthorization of NCES at which time we request that a new definition be given to designate school librarians as instructional staff and school libraries within the category of “Instruction Expenditures,” and to that end the Committee on Legislation and the ALA Washington Office to educate the federal Department of Education and the United States Congress about the importance of classifying school librarians as instructional staff and the danger of any proposal that would dramatically cut resources to our nation's school libraries; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Council of the American Library Association directs the ALA Executive Director to communicate with all ALA chapters and AASL affiliate assembly chapters this resolution, and seek the endorsement of this resolution by all chapters.

Adopted by the ALA Council
Sunday, January 22, 2005
San Antonio, Texas