ALA Lobbying for Certified Media Specialists under NCLB

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Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 1/31/2007

The American Library Association (ALA) is lobbying lawmakers to ensure that the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act includes a provision that all K–12 schools have a state-certified media specialist.

The law, passed in 2002 by President Bush, sets rigorous standards for academic performance and requires that each school define adequate yearly progress. It also mandates "highly qualified" teachers in schools, meaning educators must have a bachelor's degree and state certification—but there is no mention of media specialists. "We think that is a weakness in the law," says Emily Sheketoff, executive director of ALA's Washington office.

"We want school library media specialists to be considered 'highly qualified,'" Sheketoff adds. "We want the language to say that every school should have a state-certified library media specialist."

Sheketoff is confident that ALA's efforts will succeed, especially since there is bipartisan support for the proposal. The only sticking point is that small schools, or those in rural areas with only 50 to 100 students, could have a problem meeting the requirement because they may only have one certified librarian serving up to three schools, Sheketoff adds.

"The goal is to have at least one school library media specialist in every elementary, middle, and high school because we truly believe that it's the key to a good education," Sheketoff says, but ALA is willing to accept some flexibility in the language.

Congress is set to reauthorize NCLB later this year. The House will take up the issue soon and the Senate hopes to begin hearings in the spring.