As you and your congressional colleagues draft legislation for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or ESEA, it is imperative the following two items are included in a reauthorization package:
Every state shall establish a goal of having a school library staffed by a state-licensed school librarian in every public school, and school libraries shall have access to all state and local professional development funds (such as the Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund and the Enhancing Education Through Technology Fund) for the recruiting and training of school librarians.
Studies have demonstrated that students in schools with good school libraries learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized test than their peers in schools without such resources.
The reason for this is that school librarians know the school’s curriculum and effective techniques necessary to cross disciplines and integrate information and technology literacy into regular classroom study. Unfortunately, even though school libraries are a proven effective tool in the education of children, only 60 percent of public schools have a school library. However, these libraries are often underfunded and are usually the first programs to receive cuts when school budgets get tight.
Our children are counting on you to help them achieve their full academic potential. A school library should not be a privilege that only a few lucky children benefit from; it is a basic tenant of education that should be firmly established and supported in every American school.
Thank you for your leadership in congress and please remember school libraries in your ESEA reauthorization efforts.
Thank you.
SUDI Q. NAPALAN
Librarian
Saipan Southern High School
