Who’s with WASC? Teacher Librarians!

California School Library Association

Committee on Standards Integration

Agenda

• WASC
• Teacher Librarians’ Role
• Focus on Learning WASC/CDE Process Guide for School Library Programs
• Report process

What is ?

• WASC is the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
• WASC serves as the accrediting commission for K-12 schools and not-for-profit, non-degree granting postsecondary institutions. Its commission is composed of 32 representatives from education.
• WASC insures “that an institution has clearly defined objectives appropriate to education; has established conditions under which their achievement can reasonably be expected; appears in fact to be accomplishing them substantially; is so organized, staffed, and supported that it can be expected to continue to do so; and demonstrates that it meets ACS WASC’s criteria and accreditation standards.”

Who are California Teacher Librarians?

• Credentialed teachers (multiple subject, single subject, special education)
• WITH a Teacher Librarian Service Credential – addressing information and knowledge, literacies, teaching, diversity and equity, administration, and leadership
• AND sometimes Special Class Authorization in Information and Digital Literacy
• By CA Education Code, Teacher Librarians provide school library services.

How do Teacher Librarians fit in?

• The WASC process is an opportunity to showcase the library program.
• It is an opportunity for teacher librarian participation and leadership in the self-study and action plan.
• It is an opportunity to participate in WASC at the state level by visiting and reviewing comparable schools, and to have a greater voice in WASC itself.

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• The school community can start by using the 2020 CSLA Focus on Learning WASC/CDE Process Guide for School Library Programs to interpret, assess and develop the library program.

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What is the CSLA Focus on Learning WASC/CDE Process Guide for School Library Programs?

• CSLA is the California School Library Association: the state’s professional organization for school library staff
• The CSLA Committee on Standards Integration developed the guide, based on WASC documentation, library standards, and WASC experience.
• The process guide is intended to guide teacher librarians, administrators, and others as they use the Focus on Learning document to interpret, assess and develop the library program.

How can the Focus on Learning guide be used?

• Read the entire document carefully.
• Highlight items that are impacted by, or have potential impact for, the library program.
• Highlight phrases and items relevant to the library program (e.g., resources, technology, critical thinking, problem solving, lifelong learning, etc.). Each highlighted item should be addressed in the self-study.
• Each focus in the guide has sample indicator statements and examples of supporting evidence.
• Include statements about the library program and facility throughout the report.

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Self-Study Library Staff Participation

• Library staff should join the Leadership Team.
• Library staff should join at least one of 5 focus home groups: organization, curriculum, instruction, assessment, school culture and support.
• Use the CSLA Focus on Learning guide to point out the role of the library program within each focus.
• Each focus in the guide has sample indicator statements and examples of supporting evidence for the library staff to provide.

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Library Role for Each Focus: Organization

• The school’s mission statement should include reference to the importance of information, digital or media literacy and problem solving.
• Teacher librarians should be involved in leadership and decision-making because they, and other qualified library staff, promote achievement of academic standards and the SLOs.

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Library Role for Each Focus: Curriculum

• The library program provides access to curated curricular resources.
• Teacher librarians deliver standard-based curriculum, including research-based library learning outcomes, collaboratively and independently.
• Teacher librarians help students prepare for college, career and life.

Library Role for Each Focus: Instruction

• The library program enables instruction to integrate appropriate resources.
• Teacher librarians are credentialed teachers who teach based on current educational research.
• Teacher librarians provide engaging, challenging and relevant learning experiences for the school community in a rich learning environment.

Library Role for Each Focus: Assessment

• Library instruction in conjunction with the content teacher should include a comprehensive assessment and reporting criteria of library skills as they apply to relevant learning experiences that prepare students for college and career readiness.
• The library’s curriculum assesses students’ progress toward library research competencies that include technology and higher order thinking skills.
• Teacher librarians use assessment to modify and improve the overall library program of resources and services.

Library Role for Each Focus: Culture & Support

• Library instruction within the school environment should be integrated throughout personal and academic growth preparing students for life after secondary graduation, including lifelong learning.
• The school library is a safe, clean, and orderly place that nurtures learning and teaches internet safety. The library is a place that is characterized by trust, professionalism, and high expectations for all.
• Teacher librarians should be involved with parents and the community in developing and employing a supportive school culture.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

• Teacher librarians ensure that library-focused SLOs are included:

Access, Evaluate, Use, and Integrate information

Applicable Standards Guiding School Libraries

• Model School Library Standards for California Public Schools. 2010. California Department of Education. See p. 31-34 for school library program standards. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/lb/schoollibstnds2017.asp
• National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. 2018. American Association of School Libraries. http://standards.aasl.org
• Standards for Students. 2016. International Society for Technology in Education. https://www.iste.org/standards/for-students
• Standards for Educators. 2017. International Society for Technology in Education. https://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators

Gathering and Leveraging Evidence

• Use library standards rubrics
• Use the Focus on Learning criteria guide questions
• Use assessments of the library’s collection and its usage
• Use library assessments of sample lessons and student work
• Use observations, interviews and surveys of the school community relative to the library program
• Use assessments of library documents (e.g., schedules, publications, web portal)
• Use assessment of library processes (e.g., planning, collection development, instruction, communication, management)
• For all data, document how the findings are disaggregated, analyzed and acted upon.

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What’s the next step?

• Read, use and promoting the 2020 CSLA Focus on Learning WASC/CDE Process Guide for School Library Programs to interpret, assess and develop the library program.
• Train WASC representatives, teams and volunteers.
• Encourage teacher librarians to participate on WASC accreditation teams.

Power Up School Libraries �to Power up Students and Schools -- with WASC!