AASL Instructional Classification Toolkit
Fact Sheet for Lawmakers
School Library Media Services are Classroom Dollars, NOT Non-Classroom Dollars
One of these things is not like the other!
One of these school spending categories directly impacts student achievement:
School Administration
Food Services
Plant Operations and Maintenance
Transportation
School Libraries 
School library services and school library media specialists (also defined as teacher-librarians) are considered “Non-Classroom Dollars,” just like building maintenance and transportation. Yet, There is significant evidence linking fully staffed and funded school libraries to increased student achievement.
FACT: According to the National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) library media specialists are classified as Instructional Support Staff (and consequently non-classroom dollars), even though their primary job function is instruction.
FACT: A highly qualified library media specialist is a certified teacher who has at least one year of classroom teaching experience and a School Library Media Endorsement and collaborates with classroom teachers to provide resource-based and standards-aligned lessons for students. (affiliates: place your state certification requirements here)
The Bottom Line: A school library is A SHARED CLASSROOM where teaching and learning occurs, rather than an adjunct to traditional classrooms. School librarians ARE Teachers!
The so-called “65% Solution” will negatively impact school library funding! Library media specialists and school library services should be considered instructional services in our state's financial accounting structure.
[your state] Library Association
Contact:
(xxx) xxx-xxxx your_email@email.net
(Source: http://www.lrs.org)
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