[CALIBK12] CSLA LegiNews Update

[McGinnis, John]

[https://www.regonline.com/custImages/236280/csla_mail_legis.jpg]


We received official word on Friday that AB333 was moved to the Assembly budget suspense file due to the fiscal crisis in the California state budget. Consequently, our database bill will not become law this year. No new budget items will be approved this year. Even the Governor's health care plan was rejected yesterday.

While we are disappointed, we also know that your work in support of this legislation has sown seeds that will bear fruit in the future. So we will reintroduce the bill and we will continue to advocate for state purchases of online database subscriptions by educating legislators, principals, school boards and parents about the educational value of these resources for students and teachers.

LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY IN THE DISTRICT
For this reason, and for additional reasons listed below, please attend Library Legislative Day in the District this Friday as well as Library Legislative Day in Sacramento on April 16, preceded by School Library Caucus the evening of April 15 (mark your calendar).

To attend Library Legislative Day in the District, you must register at www.legiday.net<http://www.legiday.net/>. To enter the website, type "member" in the Account Name field and "member" in the Password field. On the next screen, click the "legiday" link. Then follow on the on-screen directions. At the website you will find lists of legislators, appointment times, and notes about the meetings. Legislators need to know who will attend their meetings so please use this website to sign up.

By the way, please send a thank you note to Assembly Member Loni Hancock who carried our bill for three years! In your note, acknowledge the hard work of her legislative aide, Rebecca Baumann, who passionately advocated for this cause. Address your letters to:

Assembly Member Loni Hancock
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

NEW INITIATIVES
First, we can take pride in the successful passage of legislation that changed the California credential title from Library Media Teacher to Teacher Librarian. This change was effective on January 1, 2008. All new and renewed credentials will be issued with this new title. On Friday, January 18, leaders from CSLA met with officials from the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to discuss implementation of this legislation and to thank these two agencies for their roles in passage of the bill. CSLA encourages its certificated members to adopt this new title. It clearly emphasizes the role of a credentialed teacher.

Second, CSLA is currently discussing with CDE a proposal to develop School Library Standards for adoption by the State Board of Education. Legislation exists which authorizes the State Board to adopt these standards. We are confident that with the support of CDE and the collaborative contributions of CSLA members, we can achieve this goal.

Third, we are developing legislation that will provide state funds for staffing of teacher librarians. This legislation will be modeled on recent legislation that provided similar funds for counselors and physical education teachers. What chance of passage will this bill have? A very good chance, not this year, of course, but soon. We will be ready to strike the moment the first new funds appear in a rebounding economy. Being ready means having the legislation written and having legislators primed with the knowledge of why school library staffing, as well as resources (both books and online databases), are essential to student learning.

Therefore, your attendance at Library Legislation Days is imperative. Appear positive, upbeat, hopeful...(add your own synonyms!) Tell your legislators of the good things you're doing for your students and classroom teachers. Tell them about our initiatives, but also acknowledge the tough times we're in and the tough choices legislators face. Let them know that when times are better we'll be back to work collaboratively with them to improve school library instruction and resources for all California students!

Thank you!

John McGinnis
CSLA Vice President, Governmental Relations
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