School library impact study

A survey of 700 New Jersey librarians explored the values of quality school libraries to education. A sample of effective school libraries was used to identify the key criteria that enables these libraries to thrive and contribute to the learning agendas of the schools:

• The school library is a learning center linked to classroom instruction;

• The school library supports the school’s mission to produce literate and informed learners who can thrive in a digital, knowledge-based world;

• The school library is a 21st-century classroom that provides an understanding of the information and technology students will confront as digital citizens;

• The school library sets the stage for student-initiated inquiry and

• The school librarian is a co-teacher who undertakes an active role in engaging in shared instruction.
New JerseyCenter for International Scholarship in School Libraries. (2012). The New Jersey Study of School Libraries: One Common Goal — Student Learning. Princeton, NJ: Rutgers,
www.njasl.org

Computer education report

This report is an initial response to a “call-for-action” by the Computer Science Teachers Association (CCEAN), which consists of computer science education leaders from the K-12, community college and university level including teachers, administrators, professors and researchers, along with California educational policy staff, including from the California Department of Education. CCEAN is working to address the need for educational policy changes and educational reform regarding computer science education in California. The report describes the general K-12 education landscape in California as a foundation and provides details related to the current computer science education landscape, including but not limited to: computer science courses available to students, credentialing of computer science teachers, professional development opportunities for educators, and funding opportunities related to the support of computer science education.
California Computing Education Advocacy Network (CCEAN). (2012). In Need of Repair: The State of K-12 Computer Science Education in California

International cyberbullying poll

In an online poll of almost 20,000 citizens in 24 countries it was found that an eighth of parents say their children have been cyberbullied, and about a quarter know a cyberbullied child. Three quarters of pollees say that cyberbullying needs special attention beyond current measures.
Ipsos. (2012). http://t.co/V0zxtCUl

Librarian staffing and reading scores study

In a longitudinal study, researchers found that schools that either maintained or gained an endorsed librarian between 2005 and 2011 tended to have more students scoring advanced in reading in 2011 and to have increased their performance more than schools that either lost their
librarians or never had one.
Lance, K.,& Hofschire, L. (2012). Change in school librarian staffing linked with change in CSAP reading performance, 2005 to 2011. Denver: LRS.
http://www.lrs.org/documents/closer_look/CO4_2012_Closer_Look_Report.pdf

Library access research

Three multivariate analyses, all controlling for the effects of poverty, confirm the importance of the library. Replicating McQuillan’s analysis of 1992 NAEP scores, access to books in school and public libraries was a significant predictor of 2007 fourth grade NAEP reading scores, as well as the difference between grade 4 and grade 8 2007 NAEP reading scores, suggesting that access is important for improvement after grade 4. Access (school/classroom libraries) was a significant predictor of scores on the PIRLS test, a reading test given to fourth graders in 40 countries.

In some of the analyses, access to books had a larger impact on reading achievement test scores than poverty, and in other cases had nearly as strong an impact. This suggests that providing more access to books can mitigate the effect of poverty on reading achievement, a conclusion consistent with other recent results. This result is of enormous practical importance: Children of poverty typically have little access to books. It seems that libraries can provide this access.

Stephen Krashen, Syying Lee, and Jeff McQuillan . (2012). Is The Library Important? Multivariate Studies at the National and International Level. http://backseatlinguist.com/blog/

Virtual educationperfomance report

How are students at privately run virtual schools performing? There were 43% more students learning online at virtual schools managed by private companies in 2011 than in 2010. However, a report being published today says such schools have not outperformed traditional public schools and charter schools on standardized tests. The report found that 27% of privately managed virtual schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress, compared with about 52% of traditional schools.
National Education Policy Center. (2012). Profiles of For-Profit and Nonprofit Education Management Organizations: Thirteenth Annual Report - 2010-2011.
http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/EMO-profiles-10-11

Technology in K12 report

This report is part of Alliance for Excellent Education's initiative aimed at getting states to pass policies more friendly to digital learning. The report notes the latest developments in the ed-tech arena while acknowledging that challenges raised in the original report still affect today's teachers and learners. The report breaks those challenges into three categories: workplace readiness, budget shortfalls, and access to high-quality education. Technology can help address these gaps and challenges, the report says, through real-time data and assessment feedback, a variety of online and digital content, and increased communication with teachers, parents, and students, teachers.
Alliance for Excellent Education. (2012). The Digital Learning Imperative: How Technology and Teaching Meet Today's Educational Challenges. http://www.all4ed.org/files/DigitalLearningImperative.pdf