Source: https://www.nyla.org/max/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=1980&MenuKey=news
Timestamp: 2020-07-13 05:33:08
Document Index: 440254637

Matched Legal Cases: ['§91', '§91', '§91', '§91', '§91', '§91', '§91', '§91', '§91']

Census of School Librarians Data - NYLA
Results of the NYLA/SLSA New York State Census of School Librarians
Over the last 18 months, NYLA has worked with its Section of School Librarians (SSL) to develop new legislation that would expand student access to certified school library media specialists (cSLMS). With the help of the School Library System Association (SLSA), NYLA undertook a building-by-building census of New York State’s school librarians. Through SLSA’s incredible effort, NYLA has collected data on 4,316 of 4,502 identified schools – a nearly 96% response rate.
Under the proposed legislation the statewide compliance rates for secondary schools is approximately 54%. There is a significant noncompliance among the “Big Five” school districts (NYC, Yonkers, Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester) and among schools serving “Average Needs” students. Throughout the state compliance rates improve in direct proportion to the relative wealth of a school’s surrounding community.
Most importantly, the census data illustrates the necessity of our proposed legislation: while the disparity in compliance rates between secondary and elementary schools show the requirements of NYSED Commissioner’s Regulation §91.2 have a positive impact, substantial statewide noncompliance with those requirements proves the regulation is not enough.
In 2015, NYLA worked with Senator Hugh Farley to introduce legislation that requires all schools to provide students access to quality school libraries staffed by cSLMS. This legislation (S.3931/A.6784-A), sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, was developed in close consultation with SSL to best address the needs of each student, in every school building across New York State. This legislation looks very similar to current (Grades 7 – 12) regulations with regard to the requirement based on student population. However, it is looking to change from a “per period” formula to a FTE formula, as the “periods” are not consistent in schools across the state.
Currently, New York State Law fails to guarantee any student will have access to the specialized services provided by cSLMS. Instead, NYSED Commissioner’s Regulation §91.2 requires only limited access to cSLMS services for those students in secondary schools, and wholly ignores elementary school students – children at their most critical stages of educational development.
In 2014, after years of threatened and actual staffing and program cuts, NYLA introduced legislation to require schools guarantee students’ access to school librarians – the first such legislation in nearly a decade. Over the last 18 months, we have attacked this issue in earnest; NYLA worked with SSL and the community of school librarians to develop new legislation, and undertook a building-by-building census of New York State’s school librarians, in partnership with SLSA. The census has concluded, and we are now excited to briefly detail the initial analysis of those results.
Current Law & Regulatory Framework
New York State Law fails to guarantee any student will have access to the specialized services provided by certified school library media specialists (cSLMS). Instead, NYSED Commissioner’s Regulation §91.2 requires only limited access to cSMLS services for those students in secondary schools, and wholly ignores elementary school students – children at their most critical stages of educational development. Even if NYSED were to amend §91.2 to include elementary schools, its continued failure to enforce the existing language exposes the inadequacy of the entire regulatory framework. In order to best protect the educational opportunities of all students, access to cSLMS must be guaranteed by state law.
NYLA’s Proposed Legislation
In 2015, NYLA worked with Senator Hugh Farley to introduce legislation that requires all schools to provide students access to quality school libraries staffed by cSLMS. This legislation (S.3931/A.6784-A), sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, was developed in close consultation with NYLA’s Section of School Librarians (SSL) to best address the needs of each student, in every school building across New York State. The legislation’s proposed minimum staffing levels, largely reflective of existing requirements found in §91.2, are summarized here:
cSLMS Staffing Levels §91.2
(secondary schools only)
cSLMS Staffing Levels S.3931/A.6784-A
(elementary & secondary)
Library Clerk Staffing Levels S. 3931/A.6784-A
(new; elementary & secondary)
1-100 1 school period .15 FTE N/A
101-300 2 school periods .3 FTE N/A
301-500 .5 school day .5 FTE N/A
501-1,000 5 school periods 1 FTE 1 FTE at 1000 students
2,000+ 2 FTE 2 FTE 2 FTE
For Each Additional 1,000 +1 FTE +1 FTE +1 FTE
Gauging the Legislation’s Impact
Earlier this year, NYLA worked in conjunction with the School Library System Association (SLSA) to conduct an independent census of current cSLMS staffing levels in every elementary and secondary school across the state. Through SLSA’s incredible effort, NYLA has collected data on 4,316 of 4,502 identified schools – a nearly 96% response rate.
Benchmarking the data against the proposed legislation reveals several predictable results. As noted in the above table, the proposed requirements essentially restate §91.2 so the prospective compliance rates substantially reflect existing §91.2 compliance rates.
Under the proposed legislation,
The statewide compliance rates for secondary schools is approximately 54%;
Significant noncompliance among the “Big Five” school districts (NYC, Yonkers, Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester);
Substantial noncompliance among schools serving “Average Needs” students; and
Compliance rates improve in direct proportion to the relative wealth of a school’s surrounding community.
Secondary Schools Compliance
High Needs 204 162 79%
Urban/Suburban 50 40 80%
Rural 154 122 79%
Large City 588 102 17%
New York City 540 69 13%
Big 5/Non NYC 48 33 69%
Average Needs 371 305 82%
Low Needs 143 131 92%
Elementary School Compliance
High Needs 458 280 61%
Urban/Suburban 225 123 55%
Rural 233 157 67%
Large City 983 164 17%
New York City 850 84 10%
Big 5/Non NYC 133 80 60%
Average Needs 874 678 78%
Low Needs 380 314 83%
Most importantly, the census data illustrates the necessity of our proposed legislation: while the disparity in compliance rates between secondary and elementary schools show the requirements of §91.2 have a positive impact, substantial statewide noncompliance with those requirements proves the regulation is not enough.
The census data provides us with many angles from which to advocate, and as we continue to analyze and apply this information, more will emerge. As we gear up to begin our push in the 2017 legislative session, we will continue working with SLSA and SSL to develop effective messaging on this issue.
Based on 2015-2016 School Year