Proposed National Legislation: SKILLS Act (Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries) HR 2864 (S 1699) would amend the ESEA to require that to the extent feasible schools receiving funds under this legislation (i.e. Improving Literacy Through School Libraries) have not less than 1 highly qualified school library media specialist by the 2010-2011 school year.

http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc110/h2864_ih.xml

Level of Staffing – New Jersey

A requirement for every school in NJ to provide school library media services directed by a certified school library media specialist has been included in new rules adopted by Commissioner of Education, Lucille Davy on June 2, 2008, which will be effective until June 2, 2009:

N.J.A.C. 6A:13-2.1 Standards Based Instruction

(h) All school districts shall provide library-media services that are connected to classroom studies in each school building, including access to computers, district-approved instructional software, appropriate books including novels, anthologies and other reference materials, and supplemental materials that motivate students to read in and out of school and to conduct research. Each school district shall provide these library-media services under the direction of a certified school library media specialist.

Take Action Now to ensure that this regulation is retained when the new regulations expire in 2009!

Until this time, there has been no specific requirement for school library media specialists in New Jersey schools in non-Abbott districts.

Abbott districts required schools to provide a certified school library media specialist from PK-12.

Full text of N.J.A.C. 6A:13

http://www.nj.gov/education/code/current/title6a/chap13.pdf

Certification Requirements - New Jersey

New Jersey Standards Annotated

NJSA 18A: 26-2 Certifications required: exception

Education, Qualifications and certificates

No teaching staff member shall be employed in the public schools by any board of education unless he is the holder a valid certificate to teach, administer, direct, supervise the teaching, instruction, or educational guidance of, or render or administer, direct or supervise the rendering of nursing service to, pupils in public schools and of such other certificate, if any, as may be required by law.

NJAC 6A:9 Updated with Phase 4.5 Amendments

Chapter sets forth the rules governing the preparation, licensure and professional development of those educators required by law to be certified. The chapter includes certification rules for school library media specialists and associate school library media specialists.

Professional standards for teachers: NJAC 6A: 9-3.3

Outlines the professional standards for teachers in the following areas: subject matter instruction, human growth and development, diverse learners, instructional planning and strategies, assessment, learning environment, special needs, communication, collaboration and partnerships, professional development.

Certifications

Educational media specialist NJAC 6:11-11.17

Outlines the requirements for certification as an educational media specialist, as well as the standards pertaining to programs providing persons with preparation to develop and coordinate educational media services in the public schools.

Associate educational media specialist NJAC 6:11-11.18

Outlines the requirements for certification as an associate educational media specialist, as well as the standards pertaining to programs providing persons with preparation to develop and coordinate educational media services in the public schools.

Policies governing issuance of endorsements in school educational media NJAC 6A:11-11.19

Defines the policies associated with the issuance of the school educational media specialist and associate educational media specialist certification.