The Texas Education Agency is asking for input on how the state should implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) -- the new federal law governing K-12 education that replaces the No Child Left Behind Act.
The online survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and is available through Nov. 18.
“The passage of ESSA has created a unique opportunity to inform Texas’ education policy,” TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement. “However, we need input from all parts of our state to ensure that, under ESSA, all students in Texas can receive a high-quality education that prepares them for the future.”
The Texas Library Association encourages you to add libraries to your TEA survey responses. The following are some statements that might stimulate your thinking as you work through your responses:
Q1: What should Texas adopt for its measure of school quality or success?
A: Effective school libraries are indicators of school quality. Students with access to libraries are better prepared for college and careers. Strong libraries support well-rounded and engaged kids.
Q2. How can we ensure that all Texas students have a quality education that prepares them for success, especially students with disabilities or various backgrounds (e.g., poverty, English leaders, foster care)?
A: School libraries support students of all abilities and learning styles. Expanded access to effective libraries improves outcomes for all students, especially ELL, gifted, and special needs children.
Q3. What knowledge, experiences, and skills should Texas students possess to be ready for success in college, careers, and/or military?
A. Libraries are the biggest classroom in the school. Librarians teach students to access, create, and share information at their own pace—skills that are essential for college and workplace success.
Q4. A goal of our state is to ensure that all students—and especially our most vulnerable students—have great teachers and principals. What strategies can we use to ensure all students have access to high-quality teachers and principals across the state?
School librarians teach students, co-create curriculum with other teachers, and support professional development for all faculty. Librarians and teachers are a powerful instruction team.
Q5. What are the important things we can do to improve struggling schools?
Effective school libraries can be a solution for struggling schools. They need adequate funding to develop and enhance reading, technology, literacy, and critical thinking skills for all students.
Q6. Do you have any additional input for Texas’ ESSA Consolidated State Plan?
I’d like my child to have access to the best technology, books, learning experiences, and teachers. This includes a great librarian.
Our schools need new solutions. Texas has a great chance to put resources to work for our kids by providing funding for literacy, reading, teaching, and sciences in our classrooms and libraries.
As a reminder, Texas PTA works closely with the Texas Library Association. As such, we encourage PTA members to mention effective school library programs in your survey responses.
