Basic Education Finance and the Library

Stephen J. Coker
Today at 9:31am
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After 17 months of work, the Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance has submitted its final report. The newly-elected StateSuperintendent Randy Dorn has made passage of this bi-partisan committee\'s recommendations his #1 priority.1,000\'s of emails, letters and phone calls on the part of library advocates from around the state to the JTF contributed to the following recommendations becoming a reality. Over 10,000 petition signatures were delivered to the Task Force.Special recognition for the committee members\' personal insights and valuation of school library programs is warranted. Without their own convictions and their gracious and sincere reception of citizen input, the following progressive and sweeping recommendations would not have been possible.

What did the JTF recommend?--That Teacher-Librarians be classified as \'Core Teachers\', and a part of the \'Core Instructional Program\'. (p. 10)
--That a line-item of $155 per student for \'Textbook, Library Books, and Other Materials\' be allocated. (p. 10)--That a line-item of $200 per student for student technology be allocated. (p. 10)
--That the teacher-librarian\'s function is re-defined as follows and declares that a full-time teacher-librarian is necessary in each \'hypothetical\' schoolhouse.
--\"Teacher‐librarians, a function that includes information literacy, technology, and media to support school library media programs: 1 Full Time Equivalent per hypothetical school.\" (p. 11)

Note: The allocation formula is based on the number of students to be served. Please see page 9 for staffing ratios.A link to the full report:

http://www.leg.wa.gov/documents/joint/bef/FinalReport.pdf

What\'s Next? From recommendations to law - taking action.Now it is more important than ever to take action -- Please begin by calling the legislative hotline and asking that all your legislators and the Governor support passage of the JTF on Basic Education\'s recommendations. 1.800.562.6000Would you be willing to host a local community meeting on K-12 education funding?The League of Education Voters website along with us will help you. Please email info@fundourfuturewashington.org