On June 2, the Washington Teachers' Union organized a "Read-In" on the front steps of the Wilson Building to "Save School Libraries." (Photo by Allister Chang)

Allister Chang: School librarians are essential for addressing learning loss

By Commentary On Jun 28, 2021 Last updated Jun 27, 2021

To successfully accelerate learning and to address learning loss, DC should not excise any of its school librarians. Yet, that unfortunate cut may well occur at some DC Public Schools, to the detriment of students who need their help.

Allister Chang is the Ward 2 member on the DC State Board of Education. (Photo courtesy of Allister Chang)

As the former executive director of Libraries Without Borders, I’ve spent hundreds of hours working alongside school librarians across the country. A school librarian builds relationships with students that teachers cannot. Why? Because school librarians don’t test their students. They’re not giving grades. They don’t follow a set curriculum. Their job is to learn about a student’s interests and to support the development of those interests.

School librarians focus on equipping students with lifelong skills to acquire, interpret and evaluate information. Especially for children who have a hard time connecting with the content covered in their classes, school librarians can build relationships with students that connect — or reconnect — them with a love of learning. School librarians instruct and mentor students; support teachers in developing literacy expertise and planning lessons; provide technology support for families; and much more. School librarians run the largest classroom in the school.

DC Public Schools’ job description for school librarians includes 15 “essential duties and responsibilities.” Here are the top three: “Identiﬁes and supports the learning and information needs of students and staﬀ. Plans and works collaboratively with teachers to use appropriate resources that address curricular needs and learning goals. Leverages district curriculum (i.e., Cornerstones) or other strategies towards supporting a balanced approach to learning and library programs.” Performing these tasks well requires specialized skills.

The need for school librarians is greater than ever. On the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exams, only 34% of fourth graders and 23% of eighth graders in DC scored at or above “NAEP Proficient” in reading. Only three jurisdictions performed lower than DC in state rankings. Now is the time to reinforce our investments in the basics that have been proven and re-proven to develop literacy. Internationally and locally, the presence of a school librarian correlates with higher reading test scores.

Yet, in the fiscal year 2022 budget, 37 schools across the District do not have a full-time librarian. Forty-six percent of the schools without a full-time librarian are in wards 7 and 8. This is neither logical nor equitable.

States such as Colorado, Indiana, Nebraska and New Jersey have demonstrated their commitment to the value of school librarians by protecting their positions. These states’ reading scores are the better for it in comparison to DC, which currently has no such policy.

On June 2, the Washington Teachers’ Union organized a “Read-In” on the front steps of the Wilson Building to “Save School Libraries.” The DC State Board of Education and the Student Advisory Committee have both voted unanimously in support of staffing school librarians in every school.

The ball is now in the court of DC Public Schools Chancellor Ferebee, who should change the “level” for school librarians from 2 to 1. Level 1 staff are “required,” while Level 2 staff are “flexible with petition.” The Washington Teachers’ Union is also asking the DC Council to require DCPS to redirect funds from the central office to ensure that there is a full-time licensed librarian in every DCPS school.

DC needs credentialed school librarians to help cure our massive literacy divide.

Allister Chang is the Ward 2 member on the DC State Board of Education (DCSBOE). He is the former executive director of Libraries Without Borders, a DC-based nonprofit organization. The opinions shared above do not necessarily represent the views of the DCSBOE.

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