You can help the Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) break the logjam in the House Education Committee by adding your organization to this Sign-on Letter. It’s important that the House Education Committee hold a hearing this session about the three bills sponsored by MAME. Adding your organization to this request will help ensure that every student has access to an effective school library program staffed by certified school librarians.
Please join 16 other statewide education, library, and student-focused organizations that are dedicated to improving educational outcomes for all Michigan students.
October 2021
Michigan House Education Committee
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Dear Chairperson and Honorable Members of the House Education Committee,
The undersigned organizations and individuals are writing to request that the House Education Committee hold a hearing on House Bills 4663, 4664, and 4665. These bills would ensure that all students have access to an effective school library staffed by a certified school librarian.
Currently, there is a literacy crisis in Michigan. Michigan ranks 32nd in 4th-grade reading achievement. It also ranks 47th in supporting its school libraries in spite of the fact that school libraries staffed by certified school librarians are recommended by the Michigan Department of Education. There are great inequities in access to effective school libraries across Michigan.
The students who are most likely to benefit from a school library staffed by a certified school librarian are the least likely to have them. Multiple studies show that school libraries staffed by certified school librarians have a positive effect on literacy achievement and graduation rates.
Today’s school libraries are dynamic learning centers where literacy and the lifelong skills of information access, digital citizenship, and technology integration are taught.
Thus, it is crucial that the House Education Committee hold a hearing on bills 4663, 4664, and 4665. All of Michigan’s students deserve access to the resources, lessons, experiences, and opportunities provided by a school library staffed by a certified library media specialist.
Sincerely,
Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME)
Add your organization to the list of signatories by filling out this form today:
Gale, a Cengage Company
Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA)
Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL)
Michigan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Michigan Council of Teachers of English (MCTE)
Michigan Education Association (MEA)
Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA)
Michigan Library Association (MLA)
Michigan Mathematics and Science Leadership Network
Michigan Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Michigan Reading Association (MRA)
Michigan Science Teachers Association (MSTA)
REMC Association of Michigan
Wayne State University - University Libraries/School of Information Science
Michigan Cooperative Directors Association (MCDA)
Don’t Leave Us Behind Campaign
