School Librarian call to action and AASL position statement issued on Common Core Standards
Contact: Stephanie Book
AASL Manager, Communication
(312) 280-4389
sbook@ala.org
NEWS
For Immediate Release
March 11, 2010
CHICAGO – A statement released by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) urges school library professionals to examine the grade level bands in the first official public draft released today of the K-12 standards, a part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative and provide feedback through the Common Core Standards Web site at
www.corestandards.org. Additionally, AASL encourages school librarians to study the finalized college- and career-readiness standards released in 2009, to determine how school library programs support student success in meeting these standards.
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, two territories and the District of Columbia are committed to developing a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12 that define the knowledge and skills students should have to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing, academic college courses and in workforce training programs.
As students strive to meet the rigor of the Common Core Standards, certified school librarians will play an essential part in ensuring that 21st-Century information literacy skills, dispositions, responsibilities and assessments are integrated throughout all curriculum areas. AASL leads the way in addressing information literacy through the “Standards for the 21st-Century Learner.” The accompanying publication “Standards for the 21st-Century Learner in Action” provides a coherent framework of development from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. With the integration of these standards to the Common Core Standards, students have the opportunity to be well-prepared as life-long learners facing the challenges of college and careers.
As the Common Core Standards are implemented by the states, AASL stands ready to participate in the process. A task force has been charged with preparing a crosswalk from the AASL “Standards for the 21st-Century Learner”to the Common Core Standards. This document will guide members as they collaborate with classroom teachers.
The college- and career-readiness standards were released for public comment in September 2009, and finalized in November 2009. Released for comment March 10, 2010, the NGA Center and CCSSO are soliciting for research- and evidence-supported feedback on the K-12 standards through April 2, 2010. States are projected to submit in early 2010, a timeline and process for adoption of Common Core State Standards in English-language arts and mathematics.
For more information about the Common Core Standards Initiative and both sets of standards issued, visit
www.corestandards.org. To view AASL’s statement on the
Common Core college- and career-readiness standards in its entirety, visit the AASL Web site at
www.ala.org/aasl/collegecareerstandards.
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.
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