SASB approves AASL/ALA NCATE standards

For Immediate Release
Tue, 11/09/2010

Contact:

Melissa Jacobsen

CHICAGO – On Oct. 24, the Specialty Areas Studies Board (SASB) of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) approved the 2010 ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Librarian Preparation, announced the American Association of School Librarians.
 
All programs submitting program reports in Fall 2012 will be required to use the updated standards. Programs submitting prior to Fall 2012 may use the 2010 standards or the 2003 standards.
 
Drafted by the NCATE Coordinating Committee and presented to the SASB by Audrey Church, chair of the committee, and Rebecca Pasco, committee member, the 2010 ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Librarian Preparation fully align with AASL's Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs.
 
"I'd like to commend AASL's NCATE Coordinating Committee, led by Audrey Church, on this remarkable achievement," said AASL President Nancy Everhart. "These standards lay the groundwork for creating school librarians who are key instructional partners and who engage students in the crucial skills necessary for competing in this global economy."
 
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 NCATE. Currently there are 39 programs approved by AASL. A complete list of programs can be found on the AASL website at www.ala.org/aasl/ncate.
 
The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.