AASL and ALA Announce Transition to ALA-Administered Recognition Process for School Librarianship Preparation Programs

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the American Library Association (ALA) announce a new program recognition process for master’s-level school librarianship preparation programs. Effective July 1, 2026, ALA and AASL concluded their participation in the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation’s (CAEP) Specialized Professional Association (SPA) review process and will now administer AASL program recognition directly through the ALA Office for Accreditation.

“Preparing highly qualified school librarians is essential to the future of school libraries and the students and communities they serve,” said AASL President, April Dawkins. “AASL is pleased to continue its partnership with ALA through this transition and to support programs in maintaining a strong connection between professional preparation and the knowledge, skills, and practices needed by today’s school librarians.”

Programs that currently hold AASL recognition through the CAEP SPA process will retain their existing recognition status during the transition. Recognition statuses and any applicable conditions will be carried forward under the new ALA-administered process. Programs will not be required to reapply or reestablish their recognition.

“The ALA Office for Accreditation is committed to working closely with AASL and school librarianship preparation programs throughout this transition,” said Kerri Price, Director, ALA Office for Accreditation. “Our goal is to provide a clear, consistent, and transparent recognition process while ensuring that programs currently recognized through the AASL CAEP SPA process experience continuity as the recognition process moves to ALA administration.”

Additional information can be found on the AASL website, https://www.ala.org/aasl/about/ed/recognition. AASL and ALA are committed to providing clear guidance and ongoing support for institutions, faculty, and program administrators throughout the transition. For additional information about the transition, contact aaslrecognition@ala.org. 

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning. 

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources, advocacy, and leadership for libraries and library professionals. Through its Office for Accreditation, ALA establishes and administers accreditation and recognition processes that support quality and excellence in library and information science education.