Effective School Library Programs

Overview

An effective school library plays an important role in providing students the opportunity to develop digital literacy skills and improve academic achievement. The library contains a wealth of information and literacy resources, and the librarian can be a partner in instruction and professional growth. ESSA allows LEAs to use Title I, Part A funds to develop effective library programs as part of closing the achievement gap. This need must be identified through a comprehensive needs assessment and articulated in the campus plan.

Statute from ESEA as amended through P.L. 114-95, enacted December 10, 2015 (ESSA)

To ensure that all children receive a high-quality education, and to close the achievement gap between children meeting the challenging State academic standards and those children who are not meeting such standards, each LEA plan shall describe:

any other information on how the LEA proposes to use funds to meet the purposes of this part, and that the LEA determines appropriate to provide, which may include how the LEA will assist schools in developing effective school library programs to provide students an opportunity to develop digital literacy skills and improve academic achievement - 1112(b)(13)(B)