Jeff Frost, CSLA
Legislative Advocate
On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed into law a new
education reauthorization bill that had been worked on for several weeks by
Congressional representatives. The new
law, called the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), makes a number of important
changes on how education policy will be handled and allows states, not the
federal Department of Education, set standards for educational success. This
act had not been updated since the NCLB was agreed to in the first term of
George Bush’s presidency. Additionally,
this bill makes strides toward including school libraries as an educational
priority.
One of the biggest changes to the new Act is the inclusion
of specific library references. School
librarians and school libraries are now considered true educational
partners. AASL President Leslie Preddy
said, “For school-age students, ESSA represents an historic new chapter in
federal support of education, one that will ensure effective school library
programs are there to help them learn how to use new technology tools, develop
critical thinking, and the reading and research skills essential to achievement
in science, math and all other ‘STEM’ fields.”
The new ESSA Act
authorizes the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program that allows the
education secretary to “award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, on
a competitive basis” to promote literacy programs in low-income areas,
including “developing and enhancing effective school library programs.” Those funds can go toward library resources
and providing professional development for school librarians. States and
districts can also use Title II funds for “supporting the instructional
services provided by effective school library programs.” And the bill
encourages local education agencies to assist schools in developing effective
school library programs, in part to help students gain digital skills.
The new ESSA statute
includes several references to school libraries and teacher librarians. A summary of those changes is outlined below:
Title I – Improving Basic Programs Operated by State and
Local Educational Agencies – Under Title I of ESEA, local educational
agencies (LEAs) must develop plans to implement federal education activities.
* The ESSA includes new provisions that authorize local
plans to include a description of how the LEA will assist schools in developing
effective school library programs to provide students an opportunity to develop
digital literacy skills and improve academic achievement.
Title II, Part A – Supporting Effective Instruction –
Under current law, Title II, Part A provides funds for States and school
districts to increase academic achievement by improving teacher and principal
quality (primarily through professional development).
* The Conference Agreement includes new provisions that
authorize States to use funds to support the instructional services provided by
effective school library programs.
* The Conference Agreement includes new provisions that
authorize LEAs to use funds to support the instructional services provided by
effective school library programs.
Title II, Part B, Subpart 2 – Literacy Education for All,
Results for the Nation (LEARN) – Includes a new literacy program to help
improve student academic achievement in reading and writing by providing
federal support to States to develop, revise, or update comprehensive literacy
instruction plans.
* The ESSA requires local grants that focus on children in
kindergarten through grade 5 to provide high-quality professional development
opportunities for teachers, literacy coaches, literacy specialists, English as
a second language specialists (as appropriate), principals, other school
leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, school librarians,
paraprofessionals, and other program staff.
* The ESSA requires local grants that focus on children in
grades 6 through 12 to provide training for principals, specialized instruction
support personnel, school librarians, and other school district personnel to
support, develop, administer, and evaluate high-quality comprehensive literacy
instruction initiatives.
* The ESSA authorizes all local grants (that serve children
in kindergarten through grade 5 or children in grades 6 through 12) to provide
time for teachers (and other literacy staff, as appropriate, such as school
librarians or specialized instructional support personnel) to meet to plan
comprehensive literacy instruction.
Title II, Part B, Subpart 2, Section 2226 – Innovative
Approaches to Literacy – Includes a new authorization of the Innovative
Approaches to Literacy program (previously funded through appropriations
legislation) that provides dedicated funding to promote literacy programs in
low income communities.
* The ESSA authorizes funds to be used for developing and
enhancing effective school library programs, which may include providing
professional development for school librarians, books, and up-to-date materials
to high need schools.
Title II, Part B, Subpart 2, Section 2232 – Presidential
and Congressional Academies for American History and Civics – Includes a
new American History and Civics Education program to improve the quality of
American history education and teaching.
* The ESSA defines an eligible entity as an institution of
higher education or nonprofit educational organization, museum, library, or
research center with demonstrated expertise in historical methodology or the
teaching of American history and civics.
Title IV, Part A – Student Support and Academic
Enrichment Grants – Authorizes a new Student Support and Academic
Enrichment grant program to help States and school districts target federal
resources on local priorities.
* The ESSA authorizes States to use funds to assist LEAs
with identifying and addressing technology readiness needs, including Internet
connectivity and access to school libraries.
* The ESSA authorizes States to use funds to assist LEAs in
providing teachers, paraprofessionals, school librarians and media personnel,
specialized instructional support personnel, and administrators with the
knowledge and skills to use technology effectively, including effective
integration of technology, to improve instruction and student achievement.
Title IV, Part B – 21st Century Community Learning
Centers – This program supports community learning centers that provide
academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children.
* The ESSA authorizes grants to be used to support expanded
library service hours (consistent with current law).
Title VIII – General Provisions – Contains
definitions that apply to all activities under ESEA.
* The ESSA updates the definition of “specialized
instructional support personnel” to include “school librarians.”
