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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Certified school librarians possess special |
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experience and expertise necessary to help young Texans achieve |
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their highest academic potential; and |
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WHEREAS, In order to receive certification, librarians must |
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hold a master's degree, have at least two full years of classroom |
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teaching experience, and pass a graduate-level exam on library |
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media functions and supporting school curricula; this |
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certification ensures that information professionals are well |
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qualified to meet the needs of children, whose first library |
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experience may well be at school; librarians teach students how to |
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select, use, understand, and evaluate information in all formats, |
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and these skills are essential in building a strong foundation for |
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academic success; and |
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WHEREAS, National guidelines recommend that every school |
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campus have at least one full-time, certified library professional; |
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numerous research studies have shown a high correlation between |
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strong student performance on state standardized tests and access |
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to an exemplary school library program led by a certified school |
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librarian; unfortunately, many elementary school children in Texas |
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today are disadvantaged by their schools' lack of a certified |
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librarian; and |
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WHEREAS, Every Texan has a vested interest in ensuring that |
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our children receive an education of the highest quality, and |
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certified school librarians provide instruction that is |
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fundamental to the development of the critical thinking and |
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technological literacy skills required to compete in an |
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increasingly challenging global economy; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby encourage school districts with any campus at |
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which 500 or more students are enrolled to employ for each |
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elementary school a librarian certified under the rules of the |
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State Board for Educator Certification, and if the district is |
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without any campus at which at least 500 students are enrolled, to |
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employ a part-time certified librarian or a part-time teacher |
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certified as a librarian, or to enter into a shared services |
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arrangement for a certified librarian. |