Report 2016-112 Recommendation 8 Responses

Report 2016-112: School Library Services: Vague State Laws and a Lack of Monitoring Allow School Districts to Provide a Minimal Level of Library Services (Release Date: November 2016)

Recommendation #8 To: San Juan Unified School District

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, San Juan Unified should consider ways to leverage the teacher librarians it already employs to offer a broader range of services to all grade levels.

6-Month Agency Response

Board Policy 6163.1 was approved by the Board of Education on April 18, 2017. The accompanying Administrative Regulations are currently being revised. Additionally, the teacher librarians, working with district staff, have identified several areas of work which will strengthen libraries and library services in the district including library processes and protocols, professional learning focused on library staff at elementary and middle schools, and recommended selection criteria for purchase of school library materials. Professional development on Fake News/Information Literacy was held on 3/26/17 and on Accessing Research Databases from the Sacramento Public Library was held on 4/26/11. Planning for additional teacher librarian-sponsored professional learning occurred on 5/11/17 at the monthly meeting.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

The district provided its revised board policy and evidence demonstrating that it is working with its teacher librarians to develop professional learning opportunities for its teachers. As a result, the district is now using its teacher librarians to provide a broader range of school library services than it had previously provided.

60-Day Agency Response

Support for library services has been added to the responsibility of the English-language arts Program Specialist in the Professional Learning and Curriculum Innovation department. Following adoption of the revised Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 6163.1, , the English-language arts Program Specialist working with district teacher librarians will identify a range of services that can be offered to all schools. Once the scope of services is defined, a timeline for rollout will be developed.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Per San Juan Unified's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

All Recommendations in 2016-112

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.