Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 |
Legislative Awareness |
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President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act into law in December 2015. The new law replaces NCLB, No Child Left Behind - and it puts school librarians into the category of Essential Personnel. There is not yet a clear funding path in support of ESSA, but we school librarians can begin to position ourselves for greatest success as this new situation develops. This page offers resources to help.
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"District Dispatch." from the ALA Washington Office.An online newsletter for updates on library related legislation under consideration in Washington and Congress. Everyone should subscribe to the email feed.
"TexLine & Updates." Texas Library Association. |
AASL Tools
AASL/KQ Updates on ESSA including a variety of blogposts AASL ESSA landing page Toolkit for Promoting School Library Programs |
Specific Events"Landmark Victory for School Libraries and Students Today." by Jessica MacGilvray (District Dispatch. ALA, July 8, 2015.) The issue of the District Dispatch announcing Senate passage of the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015.
"ESEA Reauthorization Opportunity Dashboard." from NEA. (July 2015.) PDF file. Another example of successful advocacy in this updated Dashboard that specifically includes school librarians. "2015 NEA Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly New Business Item 89." 2015 NEA Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly. (NEA, 2015.) The wording of NEA’s decision to undertake “a study of student access to fully qualified school librarians/media specialists and well-resourced libraries/learning commons throughout the NEA.” Yet another indication of successful advocacy on many fronts. |
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Other Tools
School Library Advocacy.org/ESSA School Library Advocacy.org/blog by Sara Kelly Johns Texas State Library Draft ESSA Recommendations (Len Bryan) ArticlesCellucci, Anita, and Laura Gardener. "SLJ School Librarian of the Year Finalists Leverage ESSA in MA." School Library Journal, 4 Jan. 2017.
Church, Audrey. "If You Invite a Legislator to the Library…." KQ, AASL, 17 Mar. 2017. |
Older ArticlesCarlton, Amy. “Speaking Out Against Chicago School Library Cuts: Illinois librarians issue statement protesting layoffs, urging use of ESSA funds.” (American Libraries, Sept. 8, 2016)
Ray, Mark. Changing the Conversation About Librarians. (TedX El Cajon Salon, June 7, 2016) This video is posted on the Advocacy lead page of this website - ready to watch. Washington, Brian. “School board resolutions pave way for educators to have a voice in ESSA implementation.” (Education Votes, Aug. 5, 2016) Preddy, Leslie. “The “Gold Standard,” School Libraries, and ESSA.” (KQ blog, June 3, 2016) ESSA Bryan, Len. ““If you’re not at the table, you’re probably on the menu.” -Unknown” (KQ blog, April 27, 2016) Maher, Kevin. “DOE Confirms Half of IAL Funds Reserved for School Libraries.” [IAL=Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant] (ALA Washington Office District Dispatch, April 21, 2016) ESSA Bryan, Len. ““If you’re not at the table, you’re probably on the menu.” -Unknown” (KQ blog, April 27, 2016) http://knowledgequest.aasl.org/youre-not-table-youre-probably-menu-unknown/ |