Raising Student Achievement Evidence That Libraries Work By

Raising Student Achievement: Evidence That Libraries Work! By: Jennifer Bennett MEDT 6466 Fall 2012 Dr. Goldberg

“What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it thinks about education. ” — Harold Howe, Former U. S. Commissioner of Education

Principal Perks • Raising student achievement on tests • Helping them become better users and interpreters of information • Encouragement to read and be life-long learners

The Roles of the School Librarian • Teacher • Leader • Instructional Partner • Information Specialist **All of the studies cited look at the impact of the school library program on student achievement.

The Indiana Study • This study found that better performing schools with higher test scores had principles that supported and valued the library media program in the following ways: – Wanted their LMSs providing more in-service trainings for teachers (information specialist and leader) – Met regularly with the LMS for updates and happenings within the media program (leader)

The Indiana Study continued… – Wanted their LMSs serving on different school committees as leaders and contributors (leader) – Strongly supported collaboration (planning and instruction) between the LMS and classroom teachers (teacher/ leader)

The Michigan Study • This study found that students did better when the following occurs: – Having a well developed library program. • Included more staff, better funding, and adding more to the library collection. – Library staff who spend more time in collaboration and teaching. – Having computers with access to networks and databases outside the library walls.

The figure below indicates predictors of student success if that feature occurs at a particular level.

The Second Colorado Study • This study found that scores increased with four factors: – Collaboration and Leadership • More planning between teachers and LMSs. • More in-service trainings on the part of the LMS to acquaint teachers with updated technology and online sources. – Information technology • More access for students and teachers to information outside the media center (i. e. databases).

The Second Colorado Study continued… – Library program development • An increase in the amount of resources (print or online) available to each student • An increase in the number of hours the library staff spent in collaborative teaching activities. – Increased individual visits to libraries • This was a high indicator of increased test scores. • It shows initiative on the part of the student to want to learn.

Please note the below figure and use of principles of Information Power from the Second Colorado Study.

The Massachusetts Study • This study found that students did better when the following were present in schools: – Existence of a library program with library instruction. – More resources (books and materials) per student. – More library staff and a larger library budget increased student scores.

The Massachusetts Study continued… – Increased student use resulted in higher student achievement. – Increased access hours for student use. – Schools with an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) have increased student scores. – Library coordinates with state curriculum frameworks – Students are served by a fully certified school librarian.

References • Baughman, J. (2002). School libraries and MCAS scores, (Preliminary Edition). A Paper Presented at a Symposium Sponsored by the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College. Boston, MA. Retrieved from http: //web. simmons. edu/~baughman/mcas-schoollibraries/Baughman%20 Paper. pdf • Lance, K. C. & Rodney, M. J. , and Hamilton-Pennell, C. (2000). How school librarians help kids achieve standards: the second colorado study. Spring, TX: Hi Willow Research and Publishing. Retrieved from http: //www. lrs. org/documents/lmcstudies/CO/execsumm. pdf

References • Rodney, M. J. & Lance, K. C. , & Hamilton-Pennell, C. (2003). The impact of michigan school librarians on academic achievement: kids who have libraries succeed. Lansing, MI: Library of Michigan. Retrieved from http: //www. michigan. gov/documents/hal_lm_schllibstudy 03_76 626_7. pdf • Lance, K. C. & Rodney, M. J. & Russell, B. How students, teachers, and principals benefit from strong school libraries: the indiana study— 2007. Indianapolis, IN: Association for Indiana Media Educators. Retrieved from http: //www. ilfonline. org/AIME/INfinalreport. Next. Steps. pdf