Welcome, Guest
|
  |
|
Our LibrariesFebruary 25, 2008 Good Libraries Promote Higher Test Scores for Kids, Study ShowsIt's common sense. Kids attending schools with good libraries will get better grades. Now we have hard evidence that good school libraries have a positive correlation with higher test scores.
Keith Curry Lance, a consultant with the RSL Research Group in Louisville, Colorado and principal researcher said, “The study confirms that the strongest library predictor of high student achievement scores is library staffing—as the number of hours per week for trained librarians and other staff rises, test results tend to improve. And, consistently, schools whose libraries are staffed full-time or better tend to have better test results.” What about the fact that some school districts have more money and teachers than others and some communities are more diverse than others? Lance responded, “These findings take into account the influence of poverty, race/ethnicity, education and other factors that might obscure the impact of school library programs. By using statistical modeling, we were able to take into account many powerful external factors—variables that, practically speaking, are difficult or impossible to control for experimentally.” When Lance recently worked with librarians in Indiana on a similar study, it was decided to explore the important qualitative issues impacting test scores. The Indiana study focused on the relationships between school librarians, teachers and the school principal—what principals value, what teachers perceive to be happening, and how librarians believe they are perceived by their principals and teachers. The outcome of the study is: better test scores tend to result where school librarians are valued as a respected part of the teaching team: teachers, principal and school librarian. Visit this website for more information www.ilfonline.org/AIME/indata.htm . School libraries obviously make a difference and there’s solid research underscoring this truth, so why don’t all schools have good libraries and effective school librarians? Why do we tolerate anything less? Of course the answer is money—and politics. Lance pointed out that the school librarian is not in a strong position, “He or she has less power than the principal and is outnumbered by the other teachers.” Last spring in Spokane, three women got hopping mad when their local school board decided to halve the hours of the 10 full-time K-8 teacher-librarians employed by Washington’s second largest district. The women crusaded to reverse the cuts. While they were not successful, it hardened their resolve to restore library services and prevent future cuts. They partnered with the Washington Library Media Association which became a charter member of their newly created Washington Coalition for School Libraries and Information Technology. They created a website ( www.fundourfuturewashington.org/ ), enlisted others, and even took the issue to the state legislature. Now Washington State Senator Tracey J. Eide has introduced a bill based on pending federal legislation called the SKILLs (Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries) Act. This legislation would supply funds to support school libraries and properly certificated staff. It’s not over in Washington, but perhaps this is the key. Parents have to get involved and appeal to funding authorities if we want good school libraries for our kids. So what’s stopping you? Listen to my podcast on this topic with Keith Curry Lance at www.sarahlong.org . TagsSign in to tag and add comments. | |
Facebook
del.icio.us
Sarah Long's weekly column, Our Libraries, is published in the 