ALA and AASL: Assuring Quality in School Librarianship Education Programs

The ALA/AASL/CAEP School Librarian Preparation Standards (2019) consist of five standards: The Learner and Learning, Planning for Instruction, Knowledge and Application of Content, Organization and Access, and Leadership, Advocacy, and Professional Responsibility. 

The ALA/AASL/CAEP School Librarian Preparation Standards (2019) replaces the previously approved 2010 Standards for the Initial Preparation of School Librarians. Programs can use either the 2010 or 2019 standards through fall 2021. Beginning in spring 2022 programs submitting initial reports must use the 2019 standards. Programs that have completed their initial program report and are currently under revision should continue to use the 2010 standards.


For school librarians, the appropriate first professional degree is either of the following:

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) works with educators and practitioners from the school library community to conduct reviews of school librarianship education programs in cooperation with CAEP.

Through this review process, ALA/AASL has the opportunity to influence not only the pre-service education of the majority of school librarians who are educated in non-ALA accredited programs, but also to help teachers and administrators develop appropriate expectations for school librarians in Information Age schools.

AASL School Library program review information

AASL only recognizes master's programs. Program reviews are conducted as a part of CAEP's unit accreditation process.