[ISLMA-Share] ESSA meeting at Streamwood HS

[Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association]

Good Morning,

There were a number of us in attendance at the meeting in Streamwood last night: Deb Turner, Steve Marquis, Carol Coutts-Siepka, Sia Paganis, Stephanie DeVincentis, Marie Gatz and another librarian from D15 whose name I didn't get. If others of you were there, I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you.
State Rep Fred Crespo was there. There were also 1 or 2 other state reps in attendance. There was also a reporter from the Daily Herald who spoke to me afterwards and asked me to email my statement to her.

Melina Wright of the ISBE began with a slide presentation (that you can find here: http://isbe.net/essa/ppt/essa-listening-tour-2-pres-0916.pdf). Most of this focused on accountability (as you can see from the slides). They also have many questions. What do we think about the College and Career Ready Framework they've presented? When looking at accountability, which is more important: growth or achievement? How can they creatively use the title II and IV funds?

Then a variety of people gave testimony. We heard from the U46 CEO, a parent leader, a couple people representing the gifted child, a curriculum and instruction admin from Niles, a rep from the IL Multilingual Multicultural Education Assoc, a music teacher from U46, a rep from the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and a doctoral student in early childhood education who spoke on the need for social-emotional learning for students. I was the only librarian who spoke, though I know others who were there are submitting their testimony to ISBE (essa at isbe.net).

Everyone who has spoken on behalf of libraries have be so eloquent and passionate with their statements. In my statement I tried to focus on how school librarians  are uniquely qualified and in the position to focus on ALL students: gifted, special ed, ELL, those in fine arts, etc. I also spoke on the research that is already out there on how having licensed school librarians maximize academic achievement. I've attached my statement.

We have one more opportunity to speak in front of the ISBE - Wednesday Oct 5 in Sycamore. Others can still submit testimony to essa at isbe.net.
Once these listening meetings are done, the ISLMA Task Force will then meet and make further recommendations for the ESSA Draft plan. We will keep you informed.

Thank you,

Patti Fleser
Library Media Specialist
Deer Path Middle School
Lake Forest, IL
847-604-7433
@DPM_Library

President, Illinois School Library Media Association
"...a library is more than a collection of dusty old books. It is a place to learn, explore, and grow!" Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library



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