Skip to main content

February 2015 Committee on Instruction Item 5

Discussion of School Library Standards

February 12, 2015

COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY:
  This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss the upcoming review and revision of the School Library Programs: Standards and Guidelines for Texas in collaboration with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §33.021. 

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION:  The State Board of Education (SBOE) considered the revised School Library Programs: Standards and Guidelines for Texas at their September 2004 meeting. The standards were revised and adopted by the TSLAC on May 16, 2005, and are found in 13 TAC Chapter 4, School Library Programs, Subchapter A, Standards and Guidelines.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: School library standards were adopted in 1994. The standards were revised by a statewide committee composed of building-level librarians, school board members, teachers, university and regional education service center librarians, members of the public sector, and staff of the TSLAC and Texas Education Agency. The purpose of the revisions was to align the school library programs’ standards and guidelines with the Texas Education Code, the Texas Administrative Code, and national standards for school library programs and to provide a tool for evaluating and improving school library programs.

On March 19, 2004, the TSLAC approved the 2005 School Library Programs: Standards and Guidelines for Texas.

At this time, TSLAC has determined that the 2005 standards and guidelines need further revision. Collaboration with the SBOE on the standards is required by TEC, §33.021.

FISCAL IMPACT: None.

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include better alignment of school library programs’ standards and guidelines with current policies, programs, and technology.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.

Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs

Kelly Callaway, Division Director
Instructional Materials and Educational Technology

Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations (PDF, 13KB)
II. 2005 School Library Programs: Standards and Guidelines for Texas (PDF, 567KB)