Last week, the Department of Education began accepting applications for the nearly $27 million in Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program grant funds available this year to schools and non-profits seeking support for their early literacy efforts. ALA and its… Read More ›
Education News
Leap Forward for School Libraries
Friends, With the bi-partisan passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) signed by President Obama on December 10, school librarians started 2016 with the knowledge that school library programs were once again in the language of an Elementary and… Read More ›
There’s no such thing as a library without a librarian soooo….#SaveOurLibrary
I was about to be another lost librarian in the Chicago Public Schools system when I got my dismissal letter a month ago. But my students surprised me with a “read in” protest at DuSable (three small high schools in… Read More ›
A New Year for Opportunities and ESSA
The ringing in of a new year always gives me hope for new opportunities. After the fireworks and celebrations, I reflect on the previous year, consider what lies ahead, and make lists. I do tend to put too many projects… Read More ›
ALA Submits Comments on Family Engagement and Early Learning
This week the ALA Washington Office submitted comments to the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education in response to their call for comments on their joint draft policy statement on family engagement and early learning. The draft policy statement… Read More ›
AASL President Leslie Preddy Featured in News Item about the State of Chicago School Librarians
AASL President Leslie Preddy was interviewed for a news item for the radio station WBEZ Chicago on the dwindling number of school librarians in Chicago public schools. Listen to the report below:
Words Can Make A Difference
School librarians across the country cheered last week when the President signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which included provisions for school libraries. The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) has multiple provisions to support effective… Read More ›
ESSA passes the Senate!
Your voices have been heard! With a vote today of 85-12, the Senate moved us one step closer to a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). As we mentioned last week, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)… Read More ›
Action Needed for School Libraries!
The final language of the Every Student Succeeds Act has been released and school libraries are included in many important ways. But, we’re not there yet! The House is scheduled to vote on the Every Student Succeeds Act this week and passage… Read More ›
We made it in!
As was discussed in a District Dispatch post on November 19th, the final language of the Every Student Succeeds Act (the bill that reauthorizes ESEA) negotiated by a House and Senate Conference Committee has just been released. I am happy… Read More ›