ALA Resolution on NCLB
Here is the draft of a resolution on No Child Left Behind. The blanks for the bill numbers will be filled in as soon as the bills are numbered by Congress. This was drafted by a school media specialist and appears to be something I can support. If you have issue with the resolution or parts thereof, please let me know. Thanks.
Rob Banks, ALA Councilor
Whereas, at its 2004 Annual meeting the American Library Association (ALA)
> expressed
> strong support for school libraries and school library media
> specialists by passing a resolution that urged the inclusion of school
> library media specialists in the "highly qualified" category of "No Child Left Behind"
> (NCLB); legislation; and
>
> Whereas, Senate Bill # __________ and House Bill # __________ before Congress
> would amend the provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education
> Act of
> 1965 regarding school library media specialists; and
>
> Whereas, the bill calls for the reauthorized NCLB to include school library
> media specialists as highly qualified; and
>
> Whereas, the bill calls for increased "Improving Literacy Through School
> Libraries" block grant funding and for school library media
> specialists to be highly qualified in those schools receiving the
> grants; and
>
> Whereas, the bill directs local educational agencies to ensure, to the
> extent feasible, that each school in their district is served by a
> highly qualified school library media specialist; and,
>
> Whereas, the bill would allow the state and local professional development
> funds to be used to assist in recruiting and training highly qualified
> school library media specialists; therefore, be it
>
> Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA) urge the passage of the
> legislation to
> reauthorize "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) including provisions in
> congressional bills
> (currently Senate Bill # ___________ and House Bill # __________)
> (1) to include
> school library media specialists as highly qualified, (2) to ensure,
> to the extent feasible,
> that each school is served by a highly qualified school library
> media specialist, (3) to
> require that school library media specialists be highly qualified in
> those schools
> receiving "Improving Literacy Through School Libraries" block grant
> funding, and
> (4) to allow state and local professional development funds to be
> used to assists in
> recruiting and training highly qualified school library media specialists:
> and be it
>
> Revolved, that the President of the American Library Association communicate
> through a letter
> and this resolution ALA support for Senate Bill # __________ and
> House Bill # _______
> to the United States Congress, all members of the congressional
> committees related to
> education, and the President of the United States.
>