During a meeting of the State Board for Educator Certification, members voted to adopt the requirements for School Librarian Certification based on recommendations prepared by the Advisory Committee for the Learning Resource Certification. SBEC's vote upheld the two components essential for school librarianship. Both two years of teaching experience and library education received formal support from the Board and were included in the requirements.
The action of the May 5 meeting stipulates that, in order for individuals to receive the School Librarian Certificate, they must meet several criteria. To enter a preparation program for school librarians, they must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and demonstrate an acceptable combination of a score on a nationally-normed assessment and grade point average, as determined by the preparation program. To receive the Standard School Librarian Certificate, an individual must successfully complete the assessments required; hold a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education; and successfully complete the required induction. To renew the Standard School Librarian Certificate, an individual must complete 200 clock hours of continuing professional education every five years.
The recommendations developed by the Advisory Committee received the input of school librarians from across the state. The Advisory Committee was appointed in August of 1997 and held several open meetings over the last two years. The Advisory Committee sought public input as it developed recommendations for both librarian certification requirements and assessment standards. For a full draft of the recommendations, visit SBEC at http://www.sbec.state.tx.us. The projected implementation date of the requirements is September 1, 2002.
TLA members Maureen White Carol Simpson, Janice Richardson, Carol Black, Barry Bishop, Diantha Dawkins, Barbara Immroth, Sandy Sharps, Julie Todaro, Gloria McClanahan, Mary Lankford, Peggy Rudd, and Gloria Meraz attended the meeting and many were prepared to testify on behalf of school librarians. However, when SBEC Chair James Harris held the rather thick pile of testimony requests before him, he and the Board moved quickly to adopt the recommendations (with the Advisory Committee's longstanding goal to include teaching experience). The expeditious work of the Board met with great favor from school librarians. The certification requirements will now go before the State Board of Education for final approval.
Members of Advisory Committee for the Learning Resource Certification