Report 2016-112 Recommendation 9 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 #9 To: San Juan Unified School District

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, San Juan Unified should use the model standards to assess the needs of its school library programs and address any identified needs during its LCAP process.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

No library needs have been identified as LCAP action items.

We have developed a needs assessment and continuous improvement tool that will allow us to examine the data from the state School Library Survey through the lens of the School Library Program Standards (from the Model School Library Standards). In collaboration with the teacher-librarians who function as our leads in the school district regions, we used this tool in 2019 to examine school site data from the state School Library Survey and set goals for progress monitoring.

Fall 2019: Teacher Librarians reviewed the state school library survey. They analyzed the results of each question for each of their feeder schools to better understand the needs of their feeder schools and support their programs.

Spring 2020: Teacher Librarians reached out to site media clerks of their feeder schools to offer support.

Every comprehensive high school has 1 FTE teacher librarian. Those teacher librarians have created a system to support the textbook clerks at their feeder schools (elementary, middle, and K-8) in their geographic regions. This support includes providing input on book purchases when called upon to do so. Such input is provided in alignment with the Model School Library Standards in order to meet the needs of each school's library.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

San Juan Unified provided copies of its analyses of the state school library survey data. Specifically, the analyses showed that the district's teacher librarians assessed the degree to which schools under their purview met the school library standards. As noted in its response, the district's analysis determined that no library needs were identified as LCAP action items.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020

We have developed a needs assessment and continuous improvement tool that will allow us to examine the data from the state School Library Survey through the lens of the School Library Program Standards (from the Model School Library Standards). In collaboration with the teacher-librarians who function as our leads in the school district regions, we used this tool to examine school site data from the state School Library Survey and set goals for progress monitoring.

Fall 2019: The Program Specialist brought the Teacher Librarians together to engage in a detailed review of the data from the state school library survey. The review documents used by the teacher librarians in the evaluation of their own schools and their feeder schools were organized using the State Model School Library Standards. The teacher librarians analyzed the results of each question for their school and each of their feeder schools to identify the degree to which the district's library programs and services are aligned to the Model School Library Standards, as well as to better understand the needs of their feeder schools and support their programs.

Spring 2020: Teacher Librarians reached out to site media clerks of their feeder schools to offer support based on the needs identified in the survey data. This is an ongoing process as the teacher librarians connect with the media clerks at their feeder schools several times a year. The data points that are now available through their analysis of the state survey results provide additional information to guide their support.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented

San Juan Unified provided copies of its analyses of the state school library survey data. Specifically, the analyses showed that the district's teacher librarians assessed the degree to which schools under their purview met the school library standards. However, the district did not provide evidence that it had used these assessments to address its schools' needs during its LCAP process. The district's program specialist noted that as a result of the pandemic, the district has not had the opportunity to use the Teacher Librarians' analyses of the results to inform its LCAP.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2018

For the first time, funds were allocated during the revision of the 2018-19 LCAP to increase the availability of diverse books in the libraries of elementary schools. District staff is exploring ways to formalize discussion around improving district libraries based on the model library standards and other guiding documentation. Resulting recommendations would be prioritized based upon available funding.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented

San Juan Unified's 2018-19 LCAP indicates that it is using the model standards to assess the needs of its school library programs. Specifically, the LCAP states that the district will increase the effectiveness of its reading instruction by providing a sufficient variety of leveled and culturally relevant texts in alignment with state standards. The district says its staff is exploring ways to formalize discussion around improving district libraries based on the model library standards.

1-Year Agency Response

During the stakeholder input process for the 2017-2020 LCAP, libraries were not a significant trend among any group. In elementary schools, this is likely due to efforts to strengthen classroom libraries. As a result, the current LCAP does not reflect expenditures for library materials at the district level.

This fall we are reviewing the state survey results from the state to identify areas of need based on responses. Using that information, we will begin an analysis of current library services, informed by the model standards and other academic standards with a goal of informing resource allocation and school library improvements. Expenditures to address gaps will be considered during the LCAP revision process.

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

Per San Juan Unified's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

6-Month Agency Response

The results of the school library survey will be reviewed once it has been completed to identify where gaps in libraries may lie. Once the scope is known, resources can be allocated to address the gaps.

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

Per San Juan Unified's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

60-Day Agency Response

The analysis of current library services and materials will follow approval of the board policy and regulations. The analysis will be informed by the model standards and other academic standards with a goal of informing resource allocation and school library improvements. Expenditures to address gaps, once allocated, will be noted in the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for schools and the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) of the district.

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

Per San Juan Unified's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

All Recommendations in 2016-112

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.