MoveOn Petitions - Librarians Belong In NYC Schools

Librarians Belong In NYC Schools

By Christian Zabriskie (Contact)

To be delivered to: Dr. John B. King, New York State Commissioner of Education, Merryl H. Tisch, Chancellor, Anthony S. Bottar, Vice Chancellor, James C. Dawson, Board of Regents, Member at Large, Geraldine D. Chapey, Board of Regents, Member at Large and 12 other targets (click here to see more)

 

Petition Statement:

 

School Librarians are essential to education. We the undersigned feel that the NYC DOE (New York City Schools), should NOT be granted an exemption to state law which requires school librarians and which they have been in gross violation of for some time. School librarians have been shown to improve student performance in numerous studies and New York City public school students have a right to this important educational resource.

Petition Background

New York City Schools are seeking a waiver on state law which requires them to have school librarians in middle schools and high schools. Less than half of NYC schools have a librarian. This is an important resource for our kids and NYC DOE cannot give up on addressing this problem. Sign the petition!

City Schools Are Quietly Using Fewer Librarians - WSJ.com

By
• LISA FLEISHER
• CONNECT

A difficult new chapter is under way for librarians in New York City public schools.
Officials estimate more than half of the city's high schools are in violation of state regulations that require schools to employ either part-time or full-time librarians, depending on enrollment.

Now, the Department of Education is preparing to ask the state to waive those requirements, arguing city schools can provide adequate library services even if there isn't a librarian in every school. New York would be the first district in the state to receive such a waiver, state officials said.

"We're looking for as much flexibility as we can get that still allows us to provide adequate staffing levels," said Gregg Betheil, an executive director of academic and talent management for the DOE. He said smaller schools can often share librarians.
The request comes after the teachers union complained to the state about the lack of librarians, and moved its case to court when the state declined to act. Please read more...