[Publib] Fwd: [District Dispatch] We need your help TODAY to Support Library Media Specialists

[Diedre Conkling]

http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=460

Friday, April 18th, 2008...11:56 am

We need your help TODAY to Support Library Media Specialists

The American Library Association is asking for help from organizations and individuals who support the idea of offering up to $16,000 in federal aid for postsecondary students to earn degrees and serve as library media specialists. You can help by submitting public comments to the Department of Education, asking them to include “library media” in the definition of “high-need field” in the TEACH Grant Program.

Please see this document (Word) for talking points and instructions to submit comments. The deadline is Monday, so please do this right away. The process is very easy.

Background

The Department of Education has issued a “proposed rule” or draft regulations for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program. The TEACH Grant program awards non-need-based grants (up to 4,000 per year) to students who intend to teach, to help them meet the cost of their postsecondary education. Under the Higher Education Act (HEA), an individual is eligible to receive a TEACH Grant if he/she teaches in a high-need field that includes: mathematics, science, foreign languages, bilingual education (including English language acquisition), special education, reading, or another field documented as high-need by the federal government, state government, or local educational agency, and approved by the Secretary.

Unfortunately, library media is not included in the high-need field. ALA recommends that the definition of “high need field” under section 686.2 of the proposed regulations be expand to include a field related to library media.

If you have any questions, please contact Melanie Anderson at manderson at alawash.org.


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Diedre Conkling
     
  Lincoln County Library District
  P.O. Box 2027, Newport, OR  97365
  Phone & Fax:  541-265-3066
  http://lcld.library-blogs.net/
  Work:  diedre at beachbooks.org
  Home:  diedrec at charter.net