Report 2016-112 Recommendations

To better understand the condition of school libraries statewide and to raise stakeholders' awareness of the State Education Board's adopted model standards, Education should redesign its annual school library survey to solicit answers that will better help Education determine whether schools are implementing the model standards and better assess the type and extent of library services the schools provide.

To better understand the condition of school libraries statewide and to raise stakeholders' awareness of the State Education Board's adopted model standards, Education should use its directory of school districts to notify administrators about the annual school library survey and remind them that participation is mandatory.

To better understand the condition of school libraries statewide and to raise stakeholders' awareness of the State Education Board's adopted model standards, Education should work with the State Education Board to incorporate consideration of all academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Education Board into the tools that guide the LCFF process, including but not limited to the LCAP template, the evaluation rubrics, and publicly funded LCFF/LCAP trainings, such as those offered by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence.

To better understand the condition of school libraries statewide and to raise stakeholders' awareness of the State Education Board's adopted model standards, Education should work with Teacher Credentialing to assist it in identifying potential misassignments by providing staffing information reported by school districts to Teacher Credentialing by April of each academic year.

To better understand the condition of school libraries statewide and to raise stakeholders' awareness of the State Education Board's adopted model standards, Education should identify school districts that reported employing significantly fewer teacher librarians in fiscal year 2015-16 than in previous years and verify the accuracy of their fiscal year 2015-16 reports.

To ensure that students receive a level of library services that better aligns with the model standards, the Legislature should define the minimum level and types of library services that schools must provide.

To ensure that students receive a level of library services that better aligns with the model standards, the Legislature should broaden the authority of Teacher Credentialing and the county offices of education to address classified staff who perform duties that require certification.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, Redlands Unified should ensure that teacher librarians are involved in the selection of library materials at each school.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, Redlands Unified should consider ways to leverage the teacher librarians it already employs to offer a broader range of services to all grade levels.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, Redlands Unified should use the model standards to assess the needs of its school library programs and address any identified needs during its LCAP process.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, Redlands Unified should require its schools to participate in Education's annual school library survey.

To strengthen school library programs in its county and help school districts comply with state law, the Sacramento County Office of Education should provide guidance to its school districts on using teacher librarians for the provision of library services, completing Education's annual school library survey, and identifying the needs of their school library programs by using the model standards as part of their LCAP process.

To strengthen school library programs in its county and help school districts comply with state law, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools should provide guidance to its school districts on using teacher librarians for the provision of library services, completing Education's annual school library survey, and identifying the needs of their school library programs by using the model standards as part of their LCAP process.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, San Juan Unified should ensure that teacher librarians are involved in the selection of library materials at each school.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, San Juan Unified should consider ways to leverage the teacher librarians it already employs to offer a broader range of services to all grade levels.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, San Juan Unified should use the model standards to assess the needs of its school library programs and address any identified needs during its LCAP process.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, San Juan Unified should require its schools to participate in Education's annual school library survey.

To strengthen its monitoring of staff assignments, Teacher Credentialing should work with Education to identify potential misassignments by comparing annually the staffing information reported by school districts to Education against Teacher Credentialing's credentialing records. Further, Teacher Credentialing should incorporate misassignments identified using Education's data into its existing notification, reporting, and sanctioning structure. If Teacher Credentialing believes it needs express statutory authority to do so, it should seek it.

To strengthen school library programs in its county and help school districts comply with state law, the Tulare County Office of Education should provide guidance to its school districts on using teacher librarians for the provision of library services, completing Education's annual school library survey, and identifying the needs of their school library programs by using the model standards as part of their LCAP process.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, Woodlake Unified should ensure that teacher librarians are involved in the selection of library materials at each school.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, Woodlake Unified should consider ways to leverage the teacher librarians it already employs to offer a broader range of services to all grade levels.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, Woodlake Unified should use the model standards to assess the needs of its school library programs and address any identified needs during its LCAP process.

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, Woodlake Unified should require its schools to participate in Education's annual school library survey.