ABG/PA-Pact Grants: New Funding for School Libraries

1. ABG/PA-Pact Grants:New Funding for School Libraries Presented by: Dr. Diane Frey, Asst. Superintendent, Columbia SD Deb Kachel, PSLALegislation Chairperson Lynn M. Moses, School Library Development Advisor, PDE PSLA Conference- May 2, 2009

2. Goals for Today’s Session • Understanding school funding in Pennsylvania • What funding is available? • How do we get it?

3. Base cost per student ($8,698) Average daily attendance English Language learners Geographic price difference Size of district Community poverty State Educational Funding 101 BES – Basic education subsidy is based on a formula that considers:

4. Special Education Funding ABG - Accountability Block Grants (begun in 2004-05) PA-Pact (PA Accountability to Commonwealth Taxpayers EAP- Educational Assistance Program State Educational Funding 101 In addition to the BES or BEF, districts receive:

5. “Costing Out” Study of 2007 found that it costs $11,926 on average to educate a PA student per year (base of $8,003 + additional for special needs & adjustments for geographic cost factors ). 471 out of 501 districts spend below their “costing out” estimate. Some Statistics on the Cost of Educating PA Students • In 2006-07, the state share was 36.2% while the national average was 47.6%.

6. Governor’s Budget & School Libraries • Basic Education Subsidy/Funding Payments to school districts to support basic instruction In 2009-2010 it will include the Accountability Block Grants (ABG) • Electronic Library Catalog includes ACCESS PA • Library Access Includes ILL & POWER Library • Classrooms for the Future

7. PSLA Lobbies for Language in Funding Bills about School Libraries Beginning in 2008-09, PSLA Legislation Committee activities focus on awareness of inequities in school library services across the state. • Legislators Breakfast, Harrisburg, April 2008 • Committee members met with over 36 legislators • Prepared packets distributed to legislators • PSLA Legislators@Your Library Campaign

8. What We Learned About What Legislators Believed Misconceptions Realities Funding is discretionary by school board & administrators No requirements or mandates-40% of PA schools have no library or librarian School libraries are part of the Office of Elementary & Secondary Education and have no divisional voice • School libraries are funded by the state • School libraries & staffing are required for all schools • School libraries are part of Commonwealth Libraries and directed by its divisions

9. New Language – PA-Pact (Spr 2008) New Section 2502.49. Accountability to Commonwealth Taxpayers. Any increase in a school district's basic education funding that is above the Act 1 inflation index (4.4% for 2008-2009) must be used for services for students as follows

10. Uses of Funds above the Inflation Rate At least 80% of the increase above the inflation index shall be used for any of the following: • more classroom time (i.e., tutoring or longer school days or yrs) • teacher training • new and more rigorous courses • class size reduction • pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten • recruiting effective teachers and principals • school library services. (Library services may include: employment of librarians or hiring additional library staff, purchasing of printed or electronic materials for library collections.)

11. New Language –Pennsylvania Accountability Grants (Spr 2008) Amended to add new allowable uses for Accountability Block Grant funding • to establish, expand or maintain a career awareness program and • to purchase materials or extending service hours for school libraries.

12. 2009- 2010 State Funding Options (This is outside the budget given by your district.) • PA-Pact (now includes ABG) – non-competitive, but must be approved by PDE via eGrants • LSTA competitive grants • Collection Development $5,000 • Information Literacy/Laptop $30,000 • Dual Enrollment Library grants up to $100,000

13. What you need to know about PA-Pact Funds • Good News- Every district will be eligible because every district will receive over the 4.1% inflation rate thanks to the federal stimulus money for 2009-2010. • Must use the eGrants online system to apply • Every district has a designated person who completes the eGrants applications • PA-Pact will have several strategies listed as acceptable ways to utilize this money • YOU need to lobby your local district administrators to select the school library strategy and volunteer to help

14. Columbia Borough School District Background: New Library Media Specialist Presented a “State of the High School Library” report to the School Board which included: • Average size/age of the collection • Age of each Dewey category, fiction , and reference • collection • Number of books per decade starting with Pre-1900 • Number of recommended books and periodicals • Circulation Statistics • Research on impact of school library media • programs on student achievement • Need for a full-time library assistant • A vision of what the library program could become

15. RESULT: The Board allocated $25,000 for new library resources with a plan to increase funding levels for the library over the next five years.

16. COLUMBIA BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT PA-PACT GRANT $95,206 Grant Requirements: • Specific student performance challenges identified by the district that will be addressed by this strategy • Specific student outcomes the district expects from this strategy and how will they be assessed? • How will the school library be integrated into the school improvement process?

17. RESULT: $73,206 - NEW LIBRARY RESOURCES $22,000 - A FULL-TIME LIBRARY ASSISTANT

18. How the Other Four Districts used PA-Pact Funds in 2008-09 for School library Services • Hired additional staff • Bought playaways • Bought all Newbery & Caldecott winners • Bought materials Only 5 districts made use of the library services strategy in 2008-09 due to late notice

19. How Much Money Are We Talking About? • School districts and the amount over the 4.1% inflation rate will be listed on the PDE website. • Details of the proposed 2009-2010 Budget with a spreadsheet of districts is available at http://www.pdeinfo.state.pa.us/education_budget/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=71004

20. Convincing Your District to Apply their Pa-Pact Funds to Library Services Let them know that you know about the funding Show them research indicating how school libraries impact student achievement Provide them with data about your school library program Compare your library’s budgets, collections, staffing to PA Guidelines Tell them how you will improve student achievement with added dollars

21. Research showing how School Libraries impact Student Learning Use the literature: • School Libraries Work! • Key Players • Measuring Up To Standards (PA Impact Study, 2000) • See bibliography of sources

22. Data about your School Library Program • Number of books per student • Number of computers • Number of classes utilizing the library per year • Information Literacy Curriculum and how it ties to PA Academic Standards

23. Comparisons to Guidelines & Other Data • Pennsylvania Guidelines for School Library Programs (c2005) • SLJ Average Book Prices (March 2009) • AASL Crisis Toolkit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslproftools/toolkits/crisis.cfm • AASL Advocacy Toolkit • http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslproftools/toolkits/aasladvocacy.cfm

24. How School Libraries Contribute to Student Learning • With added access and better collections, students will become capable and avid readers • With resources and technology to teach, students will become information literate • Teachers who partner with librarians create high-quality learning experiences that are resource-rich

25. Action Steps The school librarians need to take action. • Join forces with other librarians in your district • Collect data • Gather convincing research • Prepare a one-two page proposal • Make an appointment with the Principal and the Superintendent • Charm and persuade • DO IT NOW!!!

26. IF YOU WANT MORE MONEY, START TALKING! ...BECAUSE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IS THE BOTTOM LINE!

27. For more information, here are some contacts: Marlene Kanuck(mkanuck@state.pa.us) Accountability Block Grant Coordinator (approves plans; help with applications) Phone: 717-783-9294 Lynn Moses (lmoses@state.pa.us) PDE, School Library Advisor (help with ideas for improving school library services) Phone: 717-783-9547 Deb Kachel (dkachel@mansfield.edu) PSLA Legislation Chairperson (info on how this became part of the educational finance act) Dr. Diane Frey (dfrey@columbia.k12.pa.us), Asst. Superintendent, Columbia SD (example of a funded grant)