AASL/ ESSA State Workshop 

AASL in collaboration with ALA’s Office for Library Advocacy (OLA) and the ALA Washington Office is offering a comprehensive workshop on ESSA to each state association affiliate. AASL leaders will present free workshops offered through state affiliates.

The workshops build off of the two well-received sessions on ESSA presented by AASL during the ALA Annual Conference. The workshops will:

• include the most current information on developments at the Federal level and work through the sections of ESSA that can be directly linked to the school librarian/library program;

• connect ESSA language to school librarian’s role; and

• discuss current state work with recommendations for opportunities at state and local levels to ensure the ‘effective school library program’ language in ESSA.

The  hands-on small group work will aid in identifying stakeholders, building coalitions, message crafting and elevator speech development. This outreach to state affiliates is part of the AASL Vision Plan for Implementing ESSA approved by the AASL Board of Directors at ALA Annual Conference in Orlando. While the content will be directly related to ESSA, the tools and exercise portion is advocacy for positioning school librarians in general as leaders for teaching and learning.