2007–2008 Schools and Staffing Survey
RSSDodie Ownes -- School Library Journal, 09/02/2009
The 2007–2008 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) has been released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Approximately 16,330 public school districts took part in the nationwide survey, including 9,800 public school library media centers and 180 Bureau of Indian Education-funded school library media centers. What were some of the survey’s most interesting findings?
High school students were required to take on average 3.9 years of English or language arts, 3.3 years of social sciences and social studies, 3 years of math, 2.7 years of physical or biological sciences, and 1.6 years of foreign languages, but only one year of computer science. Do you think students need more time learning about technology? Also of note for teaching professionals – only 24 percent of public school districts offered pay incentives to teachers if they attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, while 15 percent offered pay incentives to recruit or retain teachers to teach in fields of shortage, 10 percent to reward excellence in teaching, and 6 percent to recruit or retain teachers to teach in a less desirable location. That’s not a lot of incentive.
Take a few moments to look over the SASS report, and be sure to share your observations with your teaching colleagues. Remember, being informed on the state of our nation’s public education is an important part of your job!
