1. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Powering Achievement: The Impact of School Librarians on Academic Achievement Keith Curry Lance Library Research Service Colorado State Library & University of Denver

2. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Outline  Background States involved, Info Power context  Results Library predictors of academic achievement Controlling for school & community conditions  Implications Recommended actions Other research questions What you can do

3. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Recent Studies  2000: Alaska, Colorado (II), Massachusetts, Pennsylvania  2001: Oregon, Texas  2002: Iowa  2003: Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina  Forthcoming: Ohio Italics indicate studies done by other researchers

4. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Previous Research  1950s-1980’s: largely experimental research Librarian as teacher, co-teacher, tutor Collections, technology, interlibrary cooperation Library staff, budgets, teacher & principal support  1992/3: 1 st Colorado study: statistical analysis School Match episode “School Match Revisited” aftermath The Big Question … and the answer

5. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Information Power Model  Collaboration  Leadership  Technology Learning & Teaching Information Access & Delivery Program Administration Successor to earlier IP & Library Power

6. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Standards-Based Education  Standardized, norm-referenced tests Reading, library/study skills tests Percentile rankings Grading “on the curve”  Standards-based tests Content standards Information literacy standards Percent who meet or exceed standards

7. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Technology  Rapid growth in availability of computers, Internet access, World Wide Web capabilities in schools  Dovetailing of information literacy & computer literacy  Changing nature of library specialist & technology specialist jobs

8. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Challenge to Recent Studies  Take into account standards-based education technology developments Info Power/Library Power movements  Get message out beyond “the choir” Principals, teachers Technology specialists Parents, students

9. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org States, Grades & Schools Studied Alaska4, 8/11211 Colorado (II)4, 7200 Massachusetts4, 8 & 10519 Pennsylvania5, 8 & 11435 Oregon5, 8 & 10513 Texas4, 8 & 10500 Iowa4, 8 & 11506 New Mexico4, 8 & 10380 Michigan4, 7 & 11729 North Carolina4, 8 & 11206 Florida3, 8 & 101,715

10. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Schools & Libraries Studied  Almost 6,000 schools  Elementary, middle and high school libraries serving over 3 million students

11. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Library Predictors of Academic Achievement  Library staffing Professional staff  Master’s/bachelor’s degrees  Teacher certification & experience  Library endorsement Support staff  Library aides, technology aides

12. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Library Predictors of Academic Achievement  Staff Activities Learning & Teaching Information Access & Delivery Program Administration

13. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Library Predictors of Academic Achievement  Staff Activities Learning & Teaching  Planning with classroom teachers  Teaching students with classroom teachers  Teaching information literacy skills to students (without classroom teachers)  Providing in-service training to classroom teachers

14. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Library Predictors of Academic Achievement  Staff Activities Information Access & Delivery  Developing collections  Identifying print & electronic resources for classroom teachers  Motivating students to read

15. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Library Predictors of Academic Achievement  Staff Activities Program Administration  Meeting regularly with principal  Attending faculty meetings  Serving on standards/curriculum committees  Meeting with other school librarians

16. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Library Predictors of Academic Achievement  School library hours of operation Before, during & after school In summer Flexible access/scheduling  School library usage Group visits Individual visits  Both for information literacy skills instruction

17. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Library Predictors of Academic Achievement  Technology Numbers of computers  In library  Elsewhere in school Providing access to Library catalogs Licensed databases State-specific packages of databases (Access PA, Access MI) Internet/World Wide Web

18. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Comparing Best & Worst Library Programs  Sample findings from Colorado II about who meets standards: Best staffed, stocked & funded:  74% of 4 th graders (vs. 63%--18% improvement)  61% of 7 th graders (vs. 53%--15% improvement) Most collaborative librarians:  76% of 4 th graders (vs. 63%--21% improvement)  56% of 7 th graders (vs. 52%--8% improvement) Most hi-tech:  72% of 4 th graders (vs. 64%--13% improvement)  70% of 7 th graders (vs. 56%--25% improvement)

19. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Controlling for Other School & Community Conditions  School library development factor Staffing, collections, expenditures  Other school conditions Per pupil spending Teacher-pupil ratio  Community conditions Poverty (NSLP eligibility) Minority enrollment Adult educational attainment (age 25+ graduated from high school)

20. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Academic Achievement Predictors Ranked  Ranked by percent of test score variation explained: Poverty (NSLP eligibility): 50- 65% School library development: range 1-8%, typically 3%  Variables that don’t explain any test score variation consistently: Adult educational attainment Minority enrollment Per pupil spending Teacher-pupil ratio

21. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Issues Taken With Findings  “Scientific” research  Correlation vs. cause-and-effect  Small percent of test score variation explained

22. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Issues Taken With Findings  “Scientific” research Problems associated with applying experimental (controlled randomized trials) model to education History of experimental approach to studying school library impact Statistical analysis of causal models only practical way to separate effects of multiple, inter-related variables and measure relative impact

23. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Issues Taken With Findings  Correlation vs. cause-and-effect No statistical test of cause Control for major school & community variables for which data available What’s missing?  “Teacher quality”  “Information-rich” environments  Extra-curricular activities of students  What else?

24. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Issues Taken With Findings  Small percent of test score variation explained Only consistent school predictor Overwhelming strength of socio- economic factor

25. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Recommended Actions  Staff school libraries with professional & support staff  Stock them with current books & licensed databases as well as Internet computers  Fund them to support school’s curriculum and state’s standards  Adopt flexible scheduling  Utilize school computer network to extend library program’s reach into every classroom

26. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org Other Research Questions  How best to develop leadership skills of school librarians?  How can school librarians interact most effectively with principals, teachers, and students?  How can information literacy and technology dovetail to maximize library’s impact?

27. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org What You Can Do  Collect and share meaningful numbers annually  Record and share success stories  Respond to appeals from researchers  Pursue “action research” projects yourselves

28. Keith Curry Lance - Library Research Service - Colorado State Library & University of Denver Tel. 303 866 6737 – fax 303 866 6940 – e-mail lance_k@cde.state.co.us – URL http://www.LRS.org For more information…  Visit http://www.lrs.org/Impact_study.htm http://www.lrs.org/Impact_study.htm  Contact Keith Curry Lance Tel.: 303-866-6737 Fax: 303-866-6940 E-mail: lance_k@cde.state.co.us