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AASL Launches Survey to Inform New Learning Standards and Program Guidelines
 In preparation for the upcoming review and revision of its learning standards and program guidelines, AASL has launched an online survey to assess attitudes and perceptions about the current AASL standards and guidelines documents. Open until Sept. 18, 2015, the survey can be accessed at http://bit.ly/1EZrlop.
Public Relations for School Libraries Made Easy
 AASL has released a new member-created resource to help school librarians promote the ways their programs transform teaching and learning. Available on the AASL website or as a PDF download, the tool offers strategies, practical tips and key messages school librarians can implement immediately to increase stakeholder support in their program.
Evolve Your Professional Practice with a Preconference at AASL15
 The AASL 17th National Conference & Exhibition promises to help school library professionals evolve their practice with its offering of full- and half-day preconference workshops on a variety of timely and relevant topics. The conference, “Experience Education Evolution,” will take place Nov. 5-8, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio. Workshops will be held Nov. 4 and 5. More information is available on the national conference website at national.aasl.org/precons.
Smackdowns, Quizzos, and Networking at the AASL15 Unconference
Attendees of the Unconference held during the AASL 17th National Conference & Exhibition should bring plenty of energy and be prepared to participate and contribute during the participant-driven, organic and dynamic event. The focus of the Unconference, which starts at 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, and runs until midnight, is informal peer-to-peer learning with all ideas welcome. More information and links to participate can be found at national.aasl.org/unconference.
Unique and Historic Columbus on Display during AASL National Conference Educational Tours
“Early evolving” attendees of AASL 17th National Conference & Exhibition are invited to participate in tours featuring a Tony Award winner, metal whistles and delicious buckeyes. Three preconference educational tours will offer attendees of “Experience Education Evolution,” taking place Nov. 5-8, 2015, an opportunity to explore Columbus and network with their colleagues prior to the opening of national conference. Tour information and registration rates are available at national.aasl.org/tours.
Applications Open for 2016 AASL Awards Program
Applications for the AASL’s 2016 awards season are now available using AASL’s online awards application. AASL members are encouraged to nominate a colleague or themselves to be lauded for their outstanding talent and dedication to the profession as part of this prestigious program. AASL awards and grants recognize excellence and showcase best practices in the school library field in categories that include collaboration, leadership and innovation.
Free School Library Advocacy Packs Now Available through ALA Online Store
 School library advocacy packs containing tools to spread the word about the many ways school librarians are transforming teaching and learning are now freely available through the ALA online store. Generously sponsored by Bound to Stay Bound Books (BTSB), these specially created packs are available while supplies last. School library advocates pay only for shipping. The advocacy pack includes 25 copies of a limited print edition of the digital supplement AASL produced in collaboration with American Libraries, “School Libraries Transform Learning,” and assorted brochures from the “School Library Programs Improve Student Learning” advocacy series.
AASL Names Members of Standards and Guidelines Implementation Task Force
AASL has named the members of its new task force responsible for developing a plan to support states, school systems and individual schools preparing to implement the association’s new learning standards and program guidelines. Chair Mary Keeling will be joined by members Judy Deichman, Sara Kelly Johns, Kate Lechtenberg, Ellen McNair, Jeanie Phillips and Joyce Valenza.
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Kristina Holzweiss Named SLJ’s 2015 School Librarian of the Year
 Kristina Holzweiss, school library media specialist at Bay Shore Middle School in Huntington, NY, was named SLJ’s 2015 School Librarian of the Year. “In her buzzing libratory and beyond, Holzweiss remains dedicated to her original mission of supporting classroom teachers with creative ways to enliven lessons,” SLJ writes. “In 2015–16, Holzweiss plans to do more to integrate subject matter standards with library programming and to provide a deeper learning of topics within the state curriculum goals.”
Lakisha Brinson Named Finalist for 2015 SLJ School Librarian of the Year Award
 Lakisha Brinson, librarian at Amqui Elementary School in Madison, TN, was named a finalist for SLJ’s 2015 School Librarian of the Year Award. To demonstrate the impact of censorship during Banned Books Week at Robert E. Lillard Elementary School in Nashville, "Brinson used caution tape to cordon off certain shelves filled with popular series and forbade students from checking them out.” She also serves as a district librarian coach, mentoring and planning professional development, such as “digital bingo” in which teachers learned about a variety of digital tools to win their classrooms a 25-minute lesson she led.
Mary Marks Wins a Year of Free AASL Membership
 By sharing the wealth of AASL membership with a colleague, Mary Marks, in turn, won a free year of AASL membership. Marks’ name was drawn as the August winner of the AASL Share the Wealth Campaign. Marks referred Nancy Wadin to AASL. When asked why she referred Wadin to AASL, Marks replied: “None of us works very effectively in isolation for any long period of time. I am convinced that being actively involved with a network of other school librarians is a source of strength that each of us needs. Professional library associations such as AASL play an integral role in the development of library leadership by providing a platform for advocacy, a network of support and continuing education. In light of our evolving role, changes in technology, declining budgets, and a shrinking job market, every school librarian should be a member of AASL.”
 Mega Subrmaniam, assistant professor at the University of Maryland, was recognized for her work using technology to engage students. The article highlights HackHealth, a 12-weeks after-school program led by Subramaniam. The program pairs researchers from the University of Maryland with school librarians in selected middle schools to lead after-school sessions that engage disadvantaged youth with activities designed to teach youth how to look for and evaluate health-related information online and share the information with their families.
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Keep the Momentum Going for the Every Child Achieves Act
Currently, the House Committee on Education and Workforce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions are preparing to go to “conference” in an attempt to work out differences between the two versions of S. 1177, the Every Child Achieves Act and reach agreement on ESEA reauthorization. ALA is asking (with your help!) that any conference agreement to reauthorize ESEA maintain the following provisions that were overwhelmingly adopted by the HELP Committee and the full Senate under S. 1177, the Every Child Achieves Act:
- Title V, Part H – Literacy and Arts Education – Authorizes activities to promote literacy programs that support the development of literacy skills in low-income communities (similar to the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program that has been funded through appropriations) as well as activities to promote arts education for disadvantaged students.
- Title I – Improving Basic Programs Operated by State and Local Educational Agencies – Under Title I of ESEA, State Educational Agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) must develop plans on how they will implement activities funded under the Act.
- Title V, Part G – Innovative Technology Expands Children’s Horizons (I-TECH) – Authorizes activities to ensure all students have access to personalized, rigorous learning experiences that are supported through technology and to ensure that educators have the knowledge and skills to use technology to personalize learning.
Now is the time to keep the momentum going! Contact your Senators and Representative to let them know that you support the effective school library provisions found in the Senate bill and they should too.
How Three California Cities Fought to Save School Libraries
As post-recession budget woes have extended debates about the relevance of school libraries, their plight has been most dramatic in California. What does it take to save a city’s school libraries? This snapshot of three districts in the state — Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vista — illustrates the setbacks faced by each and the steps taken to restore or maintain its school librarians.
Trends Shaping Libraries Now and in the Future
 A recent New Media Consortium (NMC) Horizon report identifies six trends, six challenges and six technology developments that are influencing libraries now and that are also expected to be a factor in the next five years or longer. Two trends that are an immediate factor, according to the report, are "mobile content and delivery and a greater emphasis on the user experience."
Poll Shows Growing Support for Book Banning
 A recent Harris poll on attitudes about book banning and school libraries revealed that out of the 2,244 U.S. adults surveyed in March 2015, the percentage who felt that certain books should be banned increased by more than half since the last similar study conducted in 2011. In addition, more believe that some books deserve to be banned than movies, television shows, or video games.
Group Outlines Ways to Help Close Literacy Gap
 Data from the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress reveal a literacy gap among fourth- and eighth-graders, according to a report from the Alliance for Excellent Education. In the report, the organization highlights federal programs that could help boost literacy skills by expanding literacy lessons across all grades.
Majority of Parents Support Personalized Learning
Ninety-one percent of parents surveyed by the McGraw-Hill Education said they support personalized, digital learning. The survey also found that 73% of parents favor adaptive digital learning. In addition, 88% of Americans surveyed said they expect all K-12 classrooms to be "plugged-in" by 2025.
Brain Scans May Show Impact of Poverty on Academic Achievement
Less gray matter in key areas of the brain could account for as much as 20 percent of the achievement gap between children living in poverty and those who are not, according to a new study. The results of brain scans of 389 typically developing children, ages 4 to 22, showed that children whose family income was below the federal poverty line were the most adversely affected. They had less gray matter, which processes information in the brain.
Study Confirms Benefits of Reading to Young Children
 Experts generally tout the brain benefits of reading to young children, but now a study using functional MRI scans confirms the theory. The study, published in Pediatrics, shows that reading to preschoolers increased activity in an area of the brain responsible for semantic processing.
ACT Report Calls for Reform after Scores Remain Flat for Past 4 Years
Only about 28% of high-school graduates met the benchmarks for college readiness in all four subjects on the ACT, according to the nonprofit group that administers the college entrance exam. In addition, 31% of students are not meeting readiness levels in any core areas of study. The numbers remain largely unchanged from scores four years ago, signaling a need for "increased wholesale systematic supports and reform," ACT said in a report.
Education Stakeholders Call for Designating Education Materials Open Educational Resources
Educational materials and professional development created and supported by the federal government would become free or widely available under a proposal submitted by more than 100 education stakeholders. The letter calls for designating such items "open educational resources," which are free for all.
Educator Panelists Work to Set Cut Scores for Tests Aligned with Common Core
Work is under way to set cut scores for exams aligned with Common Core State Standards and developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. Smarter Balanced -- the other consortia of states developing Common Core exams -- already determined cut scores. Once scores are set, state policymakers then decide how to use them.
Early Results from Common Core Tests Show Academic Gains
Seven states--Arizona, Idaho, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia--have published scores for standardized tests aligned with Common Core State Standards. Data reveal a mixed field, with some students in states such as Idaho and Oregon outperforming projections, while a majority of students in Arizona posted scores below proficiency in math and reading, according to this analysis.
Changing Role of Educators
 The role of the teacher continues to evolve, according to a report that envisions seven roles that teachers could take on. They are, according to KnowledgeWorks, learning pathway designers, competency trackers, pop-up reality producers, social innovation portfolio directors, learning naturalists, microcredentialing analysts and data stewards.
Poll Reveals Public’s Views on Standardized Testing
Sixty-four percent of people taking part in a recent survey said they believe there should be less focus on standardized testing in schools. Findings in the annual PDK/Gallup poll also show a majority of respondents oppose the Common Core State Standards and want less federal involvement in schools.
Admissions Officers Report More MOOCs on College Applications
High-school students increasingly are including massive open online courses on their college applications, some admissions officers said. "It falls into the category of very interesting things we'd like to know about you," said Marlyn McGrath, director of admissions for Harvard College. Some students use MOOCs as a way to augment fairly narrow curriculums.
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Resources for School Librarians
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State Policy Tips for Student-Centered Instruction
 States can play an important role in helping school districts adopt student-centered instruction by removing policy and regulatory obstacles, according to a report by KnowledgeWorks. The organization has developed "A State Policy Framework for Scaling Personalized Learning" framework to help states map their transitions to personalized learning in schools.
Tips to Make the Most of PD
It's important that educators think and act strategically about professional development, writes blogger and assistant editor Todd Finley. In this blog post, he suggests several PD opportunities that new teachers should look for and he offers tips to make the most of the experiences.
How to Create a Shared Vision for Change in Schools
It can be challenging to encourage teachers to adopt fast-changing technology, says Jenna Shaw, a school technology leader. In this blog post, she asserts that it's important to have a shared vision for growth and that "the work is only half-done if we are not creating safe reflective spaces for our weaker qualities to be exposed."
10 Ways Schools Use Teacher-Collaboration Days
Peer collaboration is essential for teacher development, middle-grades educator Heather Wolpert-Gawron writes in this blog post. She addresses criticism by some about the model, and shares 10 ways educators use the time to boost teacher and student learning.
One District’s Journey to BYOD
Technology is helping give students and educators better access to anytime, anywhere learning, according to Douglas Meade, IT director at York County School Division in Virginia. Meade discusses how his district improved access to learning materials off campus and set the stage for bring-your-own-device programs.
7 Back-to-School Questions Educators Should Ask
"As we begin a new school year, it is easy to fall into the trap of planning, conducting meetings, and focusing on the first day of school," writes ASCD EDge community member Steven Weber. In a recent blog post, Weber presents seven questions educators should ask in order to seek answers that will have a positive impact on teaching and learning.
How State Education Boards Can Help Improve School Discipline
A new resource guide from the National Association of State Boards of Education reveals ways that states can help improve school discipline. State boards can help collect and analyze data and encourage collaboration among schools and other organizations that serve children, according to the guide.
3 Ways to Help One-to-One Programs Succeed
 One-to-one technology programs will not be successful without effective leadership, Tom Daccord, director of professional learning organization EdTechTeacher, writes in this commentary. He shares three steps school leaders can take to make the most of technology investments.
Digital Citizenship Lessons Should Start Early
Teaching students about online behavior and etiquette should start early, social studies teacher Cory Hurst writes. In this blog post, he shares four tips and four Web resources to support lessons about digital citizenship. "Through proper education and oversight of online activity, we can help ensure that our students use the Web in fun, safe, and productive ways," he writes.
How Web Pages Can Increase Student Engagement
Teachers can boost student engagement and make projects more relevant by encouraging students to build websites to display their work, fifth-grade teacher Brandi Leggett writes. In this blog post, she notes that there are free platforms where students can design pages and share them with family and friends. "Authentic audiences instill motivation in students to do their best work," she writes.
4 Ways to Get Students Career Ready
A student is career ready when he or she "has a good sense of him/herself and is willing to listen and have a conversation about the world of work," explains Jonie Watanabe Tsuji, a national certified counselor. Tsuji in this blog post shares four ways to include career readiness in the classroom for students as young as kindergarten age.
Tips to Help Teachers Advocate for Leadership Roles
Teachers interested in leadership roles should work collaboratively with administrators when pitching new projects, educator and instructional-technology coach Brianna Crowley suggests. In this blog post, she offers several steps teachers should take during this process.
Ideas to Inspire Young Digital Storytellers
 Digital storytelling -- using tools such as video and social media to convey ideas and share information -- fosters critical thinking, creates meaningful projects and connects students to a larger audience beyond school walls, educator Michael Hernandez writes in this commentary. He shares five ideas to inspire young digital storytellers.
What Do Students Need to Become Lifelong Learners?
Lifelong learners exhibit traits such as effective written and oral communication skills, creativity and the ability to access and analyze information, asserts Harvard education specialist Tony Wagner. Development of such skills plays an important role in future workforce development, he says.
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Partnership and Collaborator News
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ASCD Announces Elected Leaders and Directors
 ASCD is pleased to announce Matt McClure, the chief learning and financial officer of Cross County (Ark.) School District and cofounder of Arkansas Tech University's LEAD 21 Walton Leader Scholars program, as the association's new president. In addition, the newly elected ASCD vice president is Ronal Butler, who also serves as the president and CEO of Networking & Engineering Technologies, Inc. in Virginia. McClure and Butler will each serve one-year terms, which began on July 1.
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ALA Great Stories Club
ALA’s Public Programs Office invites libraries to apply for the Great Stories Club, a reading and discussion program for at-risk teens. Eligible libraries are located within, or working in partnership with, organizations that serve at-risk youth, such as alternative high schools, juvenile justice organizations, homeless shelters or teen parenting programs. Libraries selected to participate in the Great Stories Club “Media” series will receive copies of three theme-related books to use in reading and discussion groups of 6 to 10 people; travel and lodging support to attend a national orientation workshop in November 2015; and a variety of programming support materials. All types of U.S. libraries located within or working in partnership with an organization that serves at-risk youth are eligible to apply. Applications are due Sept. 15.
Siemens: Competition in Math, Science, and Technology
The Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology fosters intensive research that improves students' understanding of the value of scientific study and informs their consideration of future careers in these disciplines. Maximum award: $100,000 college scholarship. Eligibility: students must be enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) during the 2015-16 school year, individually or as a team. Deadline: September 22, 2015.
I Love My Librarian Award
 The New York Public Library has joined as one of the cosponsors of the I Love My Librarian Award. The award invites library users nationwide to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. The award will be funded through 2017 thanks to a $200,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York, which has been the award’s primary sponsor since ALA took over administration of the award from The New York Times in 2008. Nominations will be accepted through September 28.
IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service
 Each year, the Institute of Museum and Library Services presents select museums and libraries with the nation’s highest honor, the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. IMLS is now accepting nominations for the 2016 award which recognizes libraries and museums that make significant and exceptional contributions in service to their communities. Nomination forms are due October 1, 2015.
IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries and Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program
The Institute of Museum and Library Services announces the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for the first round of FY 2016 National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG) and Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21). The NLG program will invest in projects that address challenges faced by the library and archive fields and generate results such as new tools, research findings, or models that can be widely used. The LB21 program will support human capital capacity projects for libraries and archives. Preliminary two-page proposals that address IMLS priorities will be accepted until the October 1, 2015 deadline.
Wild Ones Seeds for Education Grant
Wild Ones, a nonprofit environmental education and advocacy organization, is accepting applications from projects designed to enhance and develop an appreciation for nature using native plants. Through the Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Fund, grants of up to $500 will be awarded for projects that emphasize the involvement of students and volunteers in all phases. In addition, local nurseries identified by Wild Ones will supply seeds, plants, and advice to grant recipients. Schools, nature centers, houses of worship, and nonprofit places of learning that focus on educating elementary through high school students in the United States are eligible. Qualified applicants must have a site available for the project. Applications are due October 15.
UNESCO-Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Prize for Outstanding Practice and Performance
The UNESCO-Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Prize for Outstanding Practice and Performance in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Teachers was created in 2008 to support the improvement of teaching and learning quality in achieving the Education for All goals, which is one of UNESCO’s priorities. Awarded every two years, the prize is generously supported by H.E. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates. It amounts to $300,000, which is equally divided between three winners whose projects aim at improving worldwide the performance and effectiveness of teachers. The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2015-2016 Prize is October 31, 2015.
State Farm Foundation Grants
State Farm is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing our giving in three areas: Safe Neighbors (safety), Strong Neighborhoods (community development), and Education Excellence (education). Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; Canadian charitable organizations, educational institutions, and governmental entities. Deadline: October 31, 2015.
Best Buy Foundation Youth Technology Program
Best Buy seeks nonprofit partners to create hands-on learning opportunities for underserved teens to engage them in experimenting and interacting with the latest technologies to build 21st-century skills. The overall goal is to provide youth with access to new technologies and help them become interested and fluent in digital learning while developing skills to help better prepare them for future education and career success. Maximum award: $200,000. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) out-of-school programs with a fundamental commitment to youth ages 13-18, operating within 25 miles of a Best Buy store or other Best Buy center of operations. Deadline: November 1, 2015.
FFVF Leavey Awards for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education
The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Leavey Awards for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education to honor outstanding educators who excite a commitment in their students to the free enterprise system and unleash the entrepreneurial skills of their students at the elementary, junior high school, high school and college level. Maximum award: $15,000. Eligibility: teachers at schools (K-12), colleges, and universities. Deadline: November 1, 2015.
Vernier/NSTA: Technology Awards
The Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards promote the innovative use of data-collection technology using a computer, graphing calculator, or other handheld device in the science classroom. Maximum award: $1,000 in cash for the teacher, $3,000 in Vernier Products, and up to $1,500 toward expenses to attend the annual NSTA National Convention. Eligibility: Current teachers of science in grades K-College. Deadline: November 30, 2015.
GreenPal Small Business Scholarship
Greenpal Lawncare is accepting applications for the annual GreenPal Small Business Scholarship to assist a motivated, driven student and future business leader. The program is open to any graduating high school senior, college freshman, or sophomore who owns and operates his/her own small business or has put together a business plan to start a business while in college. In addition, applicants must be in a graduating high school's senior class in 2015 or be currently enrolled in a college of business with a 3.0 or higher GPA; demonstrate high ambition and desire to be an entrepreneur or business owner; and have a declared major in a college of business.
Microsoft DigiGirlz High Tech Camp
Microsoft DigiGirlz High Tech Camp for girls works to dispel stereotypes of the high-tech industry. During the camp session, the girls listen to executive speakers, participate in technology tours and demonstrations, network, and learn through hands-on experience in workshops. This year camps will take place at various dates throughout the summer in Stonybrook, NY; Charlotte, NC; Fargo, ND; Redmond, WA; Las Colinas, TX; and St. Louis, MO. Maximum award: free attendance to camp. Eligibility: girls grades 9-11 in the 2015-2016 school year, and at least age 13 at time of application, with some location exceptions. Deadline: varies by location.
Fund for Teachers Grants
 The Fund for Teachers provides funds for direct grants to teachers to support summer learning opportunities of their own design. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: teachers who work with students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, with a minimum of three years teaching experience, full-time, spending at least 50 percent of the time in the classroom at the time grants are approved and made. Deadline: varies by state.
Grants to Increase Access to Healthy Foods from the No Kid Hungry Foundation
Providing students access to healthy and nutritious meals is the focus of No Kid Hungry Foundation grants. Currently, the foundation supports projects that increase access to summer meal programs, school breakfast and after-school snacks and meals. Plus, advocacy efforts, including anti-hunger issues and needs and educating families about SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children programs. Interested schools can submit letters of inquiry year-round. Prize: Average grants range from $5,000 to $10,000. Deadline: Rolling.
The Awesome Foundation: Grants for Projects
The Awesome Foundation funds projects that challenge and expand our understanding of our individual and communal potentials, bringing communities together, casting aside social inhibitions and boundaries for a moment. Maximum award: $1,000. Eligibility: all people and organizations; there are no prerequisites. Deadline: rolling.
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