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.