powering achievement: the impact of libraries & librarians on academic achievement, calgary 2011

Powering Achievement

Keith Curry Lance

Keith Curry Lance – RSL Research Group – Louisville, Colorado303-466-1860 – [email protected] – www.RSLresearch.com

The Impact of Libraries and Librarians on Academic Achievement

Keith Curry Lance – RSL Research Group – Louisville/Westminster, Colorado303-466-1860 – Mobile 720-232-5866 – [email protected] – www.RSLresearch.com

Outline

Background Previous/recent studies Intervening trends

Results Library predictors Control factors Educator voices

Implications Recommended actions What you can do


Previous Research

1950s-1980’s Mostly experimental research Findings

Resources—staff, collections, technology Librarian as teacher Teacher & principal support


First Colorado Study (1992-93)

School Match: Schools with better-funded libraries tend to have higher test scores.

The Big Question: How do we know it’s better-funded libraries & not schools?


First Colorado Study Findings

Predictors of test scores include: Size of library staff and

collection Librarian’s instructional role Library expenditures

Controlled for school and community differences


Why Replicate Study?

Three “tidal waves” of change affecting libraries and schools between 1st & 2nd CO studies: Thinking about school

librarianship Technology Testing


Challenge to Recent Studies

Take into account these changes and …

Get message beyond “the choir” 2002 White House Conference Strong Libraries, Strong Scores Washington Moms


Schools & Libraries Studied

Since 2000, 20 states AK, CO, DE, FL, IA,

ID, IL, IN, MA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, WI … and Ontario

10,000+ schools Elementary, middle

and high 3 million+ students


Library Predictors of Academic Achievement

Student scores tend to rise with library staff hours

Credentialed staff MA/BA degrees Teacher

certification Library

endorsement

Other staff Library aides Technology aides



Learning & Teaching

Student scores tend to rise as librarians spend more time Planning with teachers Co-teaching Teaching ICT literacy

(21st Century skills) to students

Providing in-service to teachers



Info Access & Delivery

Student scores tend to rise as librarians spend more time: Developing collections Identifying resources

for teachers Motivating students to

read



Program Administration

Student scores tend to rise as librarians spend more time: Meeting with principal Attending faculty

meetings Serving on key

committees Meeting with other

school librarians



Student scores tend to rise with library hours & usage.

School library hours of operation Before, during &

after school Flexible

access/scheduling

School library usage Group visits Individual visits Both for ICT

literacy (21st Century skills)



Student scores tend to rise with access to computers In library Elsewhere in school

Access to Library catalogs Licensed databases State-funded databases Internet/Web


The Latest Results: sample Illinois findings

Students tend to score higher at schools with more: Library staffing (+17-18% ES,

MS) Flex scheduling (+10-11% ES) Collaborating librarians &

teachers (+8% ES)


The Latest Results: more Illinois findings

Students tend to score higher at schools with more: Current collections (+13-14%

MS) Computers/100 students (+8-

11% MS) Library spending (+5% ES --

+12% HS) Circulation (+11%, ES) Group visits (+9-10%, MS)


Controlling for Other School & CommunityConditions

School library factor Staffing, collections, expenditures

Other school conditions Per pupil spending Teacher-pupil ratio

Community conditions Poverty (NSLP eligibility) Minority enrollment Adult education (age 25+ HS grads)


Academic Achievement Predictors Ranked

Ranked by % of test score variation explained:

Poverty (NSLP eligibility): 50-65%

School library development: up to 15%, typically 3-5%

Variables that don’t explain test scores consistently:

Adult education Minority enrollment Per pupil spending Teacher-pupil ratio


The Latest Results: sample Idaho findings

Students tend to score higher where administrators consider it essential for librarians to: Offer flexible access to library Collaborate with teachers Provide professional development

to teachers Serve on committees Meet with principal

• Advanced scores double or better



Students tend to score higher where teachers report librarians more frequently providing Instructional resources Instructional collaboration

(especially involving technology) Professional development

• Advanced scores 15-20% higher



Students tend to score higher where librarians report more frequently providing teachers with Instructional resources Instructional collaboration

(especially in classroom) Professional development

• Advanced scores 25-36% higher


Recommended Actions

Staff school libraries well.

Stock them with current books, databases & Internet computers.

Fund them to support school’s curriculum, standards, and 21st Century skills.

Adopt flexible scheduling.

Utilize computer network to extend library’s reach into classrooms.

powering achievement: the impact of libraries & librarians on academic achievement, calgary 2011

Education

school library development

library staffing

library s reach

ms library spending

size of library staff

library hours usage

school access

school conditions