Report 2016-112 Recommendation 16 Responses

Report 2016-112: School Library Services: Vague State Laws and a Lack of Monitoring Allow School Districts to Provide a Minimal Level of Library Services (Release Date: November 2016)

Recommendation #16 To: San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

To strengthen school library programs in its county and help school districts comply with state law, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools should provide guidance to its school districts on using teacher librarians for the provision of library services, completing Education's annual school library survey, and identifying the needs of their school library programs by using the model standards as part of their LCAP process.

1-Year Agency Response

SBCSS has provided communication, support, and resources to Districts in the following ways:

1.Assignment Monitor Review (AMR) Annual Workshop: (August 31, 2016):

Annual workshop provided by SBCSS Credential Services staff. Identifies Education Code, regulations, and sample misassignments of library staff.

2. Quadrennial Assignment Monitoring and Review (June 2, 2017 and June 20, 2017):

Sample reports of uncorrected misassignment letter. Notification sent to district superintendents and SBCSS county superintendent regarding library staff

misassignments. Librarian staffing and credentialing resources attached.

3. District Consultation Contracts:

Sample contracts outlining district's contracted librarian services to support compliance with certificated librarian staffing guidelines.

4. SBCSS Agreement for Consultation Services:

Contract proposal to provide supplemental certificated librarian support, professional development, and technical assistance to certificated and classified librarians through facilitation of the SBCSS Media Library Educator Network.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools provided guidance to its school districts on using teacher librarians for the provision of library services, completing Education's annual school library survey, and identifying the needs of their school library programs by using the model standards as part of their LCAP process.

60-Day Agency Response

The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) is currently providing a Media Library Educators Network (MLEN) to its 33 districts for any district staff wishing to attend, from certificated library media teachers to library technicians to school and district administrators, and more. These sessions focus on the Library Model Standards and their implementation as well as the latest developments in libraries and resources for student learning. In addition to the MLEN, SBCSS has contracted with a fully certificated district librarian to provide consulting services that include facilitating the network, supporting completion of the annual school library survey, and using the model standards to help districts address the needs of their school library programs.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) provided copies of invoices, presentations, feedback forms, and other documents from its Media Library Educator's Network. These documents demonstrate SBCSS's efforts to provide guidance to its school districts on identifying the needs of their school library programs by using the model standards as part of their LCAP process. However, SBCSS did not demonstrate that it has provided guidance to districts on using teacher librarians for the provision of library services and or on completing Education's annual school library survey.

6-Month Agency Response

The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) is currently providing a Media Library Educators Network (MLEN) to its 33 districts for any district staff wishing to attend, from certificated library media teachers to library technicians to school and district administrators, and more. These sessions focus on the Library Model Standards and their implementation as well as the latest developments in libraries and resources for student learning. In addition to the MLEN, SBCSS has contracted with a fully certificated district librarian to provide consulting services that include facilitating the network, supporting completion of the annual school library survey, and using the model standards to help districts address the needs of their school library programs.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) provided copies of invoices, presentations, feedback forms, and other documents from its Media Library Educator's Network. These documents demonstrate SBCSS's efforts to provide guidance to its school districts on identifying the needs of their school library programs by using the model standards as part of their LCAP process. However, SBCSS did not demonstrate that it has provided guidance to districts on using teacher librarians for the provision of library services and or on completing Education's annual school library survey.

All Recommendations in 2016-112

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.