Perceptions of school library workers study

A class study compared the various perceptions of what classified and support level persons in CA school libraries.  The results suggest that distinctions between professional and paraprofessional roles have become increasingly blurred, with paraprofessional staff frequently expected to perform complex information and instructional tasks without corresponding professional preparation or credentials. These findings raise concerns about the deprofessionalization of school librarianship and highlight the need for clearer differentiation of responsibilities, professional standards, and staffing models within California school libraries.

Harlan, Mary Ann (2026) "When Everyone Is a Librarian: Examining Job Titles and Responsibilities in California School Libraries," Learning Hub: Vol. 1: Iss. 2, Article 11.
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/learning-hub/vol1/iss2/11

Student Achievement and Teacher Librarians Study

“This study found that students were more likely to meet or exceed English Language Arts and Literacy (ELA) standards when their schools had credentialed teacher librarians (TLs), TLs serving a single school, and school library staff who engaged in certain specific activities, including managing their library collections and supporting literacy teaching. With rare exceptions, relationships between library staffing levels and staff activities and ELA performance levels persisted regardless of the gender, race/ethnicity, or socioeconomic status of students.” (Lance & Gerrity). 

Lance, K., & Gerrity, C. (2025). Contributions of California teacher librarians to student achievement. Learning Hub, 1(2). https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/learning-hub/vol1/iss2/3/ 

Low-income Latino students' reading scores report

 Some districts with substantial numbers of low-income Latino students vastly outperform others when it comes to reading and writing. The results appear to have more to do with how schools are teaching students to read and less about their family’s income or their English proficiency. That’s according to a new report from a literacy advocacy group made up of organizations of educators, advocates and researchers. The pandemic negatively impacted students. However, 

"The clear message is that it is not the students themselves, or the level of resources, that drive student reading achievement - the primary drivers are district focus on reading, management practices, and curriculum and instruction choices.  The top performing districts come in all types: urban, rural, and suburban, across 9 different counties, with high-need students levels ranging from 39% to 94%.  Any district can succeed at teaching reading."

California Reading Report Card 2022. (2023). California Reading Coalition.

https://www.careads.org/2022-reportcard

California Public School Parent Survey

A new statewide survey of more than 1,000 Californians with children in public schools provides a first detailed examination regarding how connected and involved parents are with their children's schools. The results of this survey are particularly timely given that parents are playing a greater role in providing input on how education funds are spent through California's new Local Control Funding Formula now being implemented in schools across the state.  Here is a brief summary:

“The survey revealed that while parents knew little about the new school funding law, they were overwhelmingly willing to participate in decisions about school budgets -- if they feel they would be heard. The survey also found distinct differences among high-income and low-income parents when it comes to evaluation of schools and levels of engagement. In addition to providing an important baseline for parent engagement in California, this information can help educators and other stakeholders better understand the obstacles to parent participation and improve their outreach as the state implements its new funding system.

EdSource. (2013). California Public School Parent Survey. Oakland: EdSource.

http://edsource.org/today/parent-engagement

Future of UC Berkeley Library report

University of California, Berkeley, Chancellor Nicholas Dirks should spend more money on his library, because its books, services, and space will become more important than ever over the next two decades. So, at least, says an October 16 report (PDF file) from a faculty committee tasked by the previous chancellor, Robert Birgeneau, with figuring out the library’s place on the university campus of the future. Implications are generally applicable for all types of libraries.
UC Berkeley. (2013). Report of the Commission on the future of the UC Berkeley Library.
http://evcp.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/FINAL_CFUCBL_report_10.16.13.pdf

California Truancy Report

This report is the first to present state-wide statistics on California's truancy crisis which reveal that, last year alone, 1 million elementary school students were truant and 250,000 elementary school students missed 18 or more school days at a cost of $1.4 billion in lost funds to California school districts. According to the report, elementary school truancy is at the root of the state's chronic criminal justice problems. According to the report, missing large amounts of school is one of the strongest predictors of dropping-out, even more so than suspensions or test scores. Annually, dropouts cost California taxpayers an estimated $46.4 billion in incarceration, lost productivity and lost taxes.
Harris, K. (2013). In School + On Track: Attorney General's Report on California's Elementary School Truancy and Absenteeism Crisis. Sacramento: California Department of Justice.
http://www.issuelab.org/resource/in_school_on_track_attorney_generals_report_on_californias_elementary_school_truancy_and_absenteeism_crisis

California special education funding report

As costs to educate students with disabilities have risen and state and federal special-education funding has remained steady, the share of local funds used to pay for special-education services in California has increased to 39% from 32%, between 2005 and 2011, according to a report from the state Legislative Analyst's Office. The report predicts growth in the amount of funds needed to serve this student population, as there has been a 240% increase in diagnoses of students with autism and a 120% rise in the number of students with low-incidence disabilities that require costly services.
California Legislative Office. (2013). Overview of special education in California. Sacramento: California Legislative Office.
http://lao.ca.gov/reports/2013/edu/special-ed-primer/special-ed-primer-010313.aspx

California suspension report

Students who are racial minorities or who have disabilities are suspended at higher rates than other students in California schools, according to a UCLA analysis. Researchers, who studied data from nearly 500 school districts in the state, say the findings amount to a civil rights issue, and note that federal law requires schools to provide behavioral support and services for students with disabilities.
Losen,D., Martinez, T., & Gillespie, J. (2012). Suspended education in California. Los Angeles: UCLA Center for Civil Rights Remedies.
http://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/suspended-education-in-california

California district spending report

There is wide variation in per-pupil state spending across California school districts with some low-income districts receiving $620 less per student than is received in more affluent districts, according to a new report. The report also found some disparities in the other extreme and among districts serving students of similar demographic backgrounds. For example, in 2009-10, the latest data available, per-pupil revenue was $14,076 in Palo Alto versus $7,679 in Milpitas, both unified districts serving K-12 students. But clearly, affluence counts: In San Mateo County, the Woodside elementary district took in $18,894 per student, while Millbrae elementary got $7,362.
Education Trust-West. (2012). the cruel divide. Oakland, CA: Author.
http://www.mercurynews.com/education/ci_20044363?source=pkg

California public school study

UCLA's annual report o learning conditions and educational outcomes in California's public schools reiterates K12's state of emergency. Among their findings:
- HSs are providin less time, attention and quality programs so student engagement and achievement suffer.
-Inequality is growing.
UCLA. 2011. Free Fall: Educational Opportunities in 2011.
http://edopp.org

Study: Should 8th Graders take Algebra?

The number of eighth-graders in California taking algebra has increased 80% since 2003, but many were unprepared for the class, according to a recent study. The study urged schools to better prepare students for algebra and to make sure students are placed in appropriate classes. "Giving more students the opportunity to complete Algebra I in eighth grade should not be achieved at the expense of a large proportion of students who would be better served by having more time to master key algebra concepts," said one of the study's authors.
EdSource, 2011, New study finds many San Mateo County students in eighth-grade algebra are not prepared for it

California teacher shortage report

California's budget crisis is worsening teacher shortage
The number of teachers in California has dropped to a 10-year low, and about one-third of the state's teaching force is expected to retire during the next decade, according to a report. Meanwhile, the report shows that California's budget troubles have reduced the number of first- and second-year teachers, and training programs are enrolling fewer participants. The report calls for adequate funding for public education and a greater focus on teacher development.
Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning. (2010). California’s Teaching Force 2010. Santa Cruz: Author.
http://www.cftl.org/documents/2010/TCF.2010.FullReport.pdf

California School Library Standards research

DRAFT California school library standards research (http://www.csulb.edu/~lfarmer)

California ELL report

Report criticizes instruction of long-term ELL students in Calif.
Students learning English as a second language in 40 California school districts may not be receiving the instruction they need, according to a report by a coalition of education and civil rights groups. The study concluded that 59% of English-language learners in secondary schools and with more than six years in U.S. schools had not achieved proficiency, and few programs were in place to meet the long-term needs of ELL students. State education leaders disputed the findings, but acknowledged the challenge for students to achieve English fluency in higher grades, where academics become more rigorous.
Californians Together. (2010). Reparable Harm: Fulfilling the Unkept Promise of Educational Opportunity for California’s Long Term English Learners. Long Beach, CA: Author.
http://www.californianstogether.org/

American education reports

The Brookings Institution published three reports on American education. One shows that the gender gap is closing in mathematics performance, but that boys are falling behind on reading. Two other reports focus on California education. One shows that low-performing schools usually do not improve over time. In examining California charter schools, conversions look more like traditional public schools than start-up charters.
Brookings Institution. (2010). Brown Center Report on American Education.
http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2010/0317_education_loveless.aspx

California education study

This report about California education assesses the state of the multiple pathways model of combining academics with career education and the field's shared identity, standards of practice, knowledge base, leadership and grassroots support, policy support, and funding. It also makes recommendations.
Howard, Don, & Patrick Wu. (2009). Assessing California's Multiple Pathways Field: Preparing Youth for Success in College and Career. San Francisco: James Irvine Foundation.
http://www.irvine.org/images/stories/pdf/pubs/assessingmultiplepathways.pdf

Education policy report

Outlines the need to improve the K-12 and higher education systems to close the projected skills gap in the labor force. Recommends reducing high school dropout rates and increasing community college transfer rates and graduation rates at state colleges.
Johnson, Hans. (June 2009). Educating California: Choices for the Future. Sacramento: Public Policy Institute of California.
http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_609HJR.pdf

California Education report

This state report recommends ways to improve student achievement by using data to drive decision-making, sharing best practices, encouraging innovation, and supporting improvement through professional development. It also details how to expand and enhance current data systems.

California Department of Education. (2008). Framework for a Comprehensive Education Data System in California: Unlocking the Power of Data to Continually Improve Public Education. Sacramento: Author.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/pc/mckinseycontents.asp

California elementary achievement

California elementaries not on track to meet AYP targets in 2014
California elementary schools on average have boosted student proficiency by less than 4 percentage points annually since 2003, indicating that few will meet adequate yearly progress this year as the state requires a 11 percentage-point jump in proficiency rates, according to research led by a professor at the University of California, Riverside. "We're hitting a balloon payment scenario, to use a housing analogy, where the expectations set forth in the federal law are far higher than recent performance levels."
Bryant, M., et al. (2008, Sept. 26). ASSESSMENT: School Performance Will Fail to Meet Legislated Benchmarks. Science, 1781-1782

California Teacher Demand

A new report highlights expected demand for teachers driven by projected growth in student enrollment and looming teacher retirements over the next ten years. County-by-county analyses suggest that California's Central Valley (North and South San Joaquin Valley and Upper and Sacramento Metropolitan Valley) and Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) will face some of the highest demand for new teachers in the coming decade.
WestEd. (2008). Trends in California Teacher Demand: A County and Regional Perspective. San Francisco: Author.
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?projectID=144&productID=58