In the March 2013 School Library Journal, there is an article, Latest Study: A Full-time School Librarian Makes a Critical Difference in Boosting Student Achievement. In light of recent unsettling news from Ogden District, this is a good article that reminds us of the impact that certified school librarians have on students. This major study about the effect of strong school library programs was conducted in public schools in Pennsylvania.
The study concluded that reading and writing scores are better for students who have full-time certified librarians than for those who don't. The inclusion of writing data was an important element of this research because library studies generally focus on reading scores. "The writing aspect is especially vital given the Common Core and its emphasis on students' ability to produce meaningful materials in the learning process. Advanced writing scores are three times as likely in schools with a full-time librarian. And, it gets better with better budgets. Students with access to well-resourced libraries are two to five times more likely to score Advanced in writing than students without such libraries."
The dedicated Library Technology Teachers in SLCSD impact teachers and students every single day. You make a difference! Thank you for all that you do.