Please add your ideas for platform language to the topics below. Thanks, Doug.

Platform at WebJunction: http://mn.webjunction.org/mlamemo (You will need to create an account if you have not already done so.)

Final MLA/MEMO PlatformLibLegPlat12509.doc 

2009 MEMO platform planks and talking points

Highspeed Telecommunication Infrastructure is Essential to Meet (9/30/08) Peg Werner and Dale Carrison

K-12 Education and Public Library Goals

•    Current administration and legislative proposals assume the statewide existence of a “free” electronic highway – the Internet.  A connection to the Internet is not free and availability, performance and cost varies widely across the state.

•    The Learning Network of Minnesota was created to allow students, staff and library users equal access to worldwide learning resources, including those available on the Internet.  While the volume, quality and relevance of instructional and informational content has greatly increased over the last ten years, many schools and libraries cannot afford to increase the capacity of their connections and cannot take full advantage of these resources.  Some districts and libraries have decreased their capacity due to budget constraints.

•    As schools increase the use of online learning techniques to meet their instructional needs, particularly to serve special populations, connection capacity is being further strained and degraded.  Similarly, as library users access the full powers of the Internet including video streaming, the bandwidth capacity of the library network is severely taxed.

•    Accountability reforms spawned by No Child Left Behind and Minnesota statute require rapid, secure access to student performance data.  The use of network-based programs and regional servers for online testing and data warehousing and data-driven decision making is increasing.

•    A stable, efficient and secure telecommunications infrastructure is essential to continued productivity gains in the administration of both K-12 schools and public libraries.  E-mail and web posting of documents allows asynchronous communication.  The mailing of printed reports between MDE and school districts or the State Library and public libraries has been replaced with digital data transmission, and videoconferences for both entities and electronic field trips for students are saving time and reducing travel costs.

•    Regional cooperation and collaboration for K-12 education and public library telecommunications and Internet access infrastructure  development has proven to be cost effective and service efficient and should be recognized and fostered by legislative funding.

•    While the unit cost of telecommunications capacity has generally decreased, telecommunications costs are distance-sensitive and cost disparities exist throughout Minnesota.  Telecommunications equity aid and Regional Library Telecommunications Aid reduce those disparities for both urban and rural schools and libraries, allowing them to afford the connection capacity necessary to achieve their education and information goals.

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MEMO/MLA supports the finalization and adoption of the state technology plan.

• Minnesota school districts need to plan effectively for technology implementations to support learning and school management.
• The Minnesota Department of Education needs accurate information on technology infrastructure in Minnesota schools to assess the impact of state initiatives such as online testing, data reporting requirements, and global competitiveness (STEM disciplines).
• Minnesota schools need access to sufficient technology infrastructure to engage and educate 21st century students. We can no longer afford an 18th century model of education that is irrelevant to the global economy in which we live and do business.
• Minnesota used to enjoy a sound reputation as an education technology leader. Minnesota is now ranked at C or D levels on national evaluations of education technology use by publications such as Education Week.   
• Minnesota students are having to "power down" when they come to school. The 21st century student expects an education that is relevant to the world in which they live, includes real-life experiences, and provides them with the opportunity to learn and communicate outside of the boundaries of their local school district.
   

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MEMO/MLA supports a significant general education formula increase for all schools such as that represented by the Minnesota Miracle II.

• School libraries and technology programs are currently underfunded and inequitably funded across Minnesota, leading to inadequate resources and staffing for teaching 21st century skills and workforce development skills.
• Underfunding of specials education programs are cutting into general fund dollars.
• See statement on the Minnesota Miracle II below

Other areas of concern

New approach to addressing perceived library staffing/program cuts

   emphasis on 21st century skills for workforce development

   early education initiatives

   as part of state tech plan implementation

   (Less “self-serving” more results oriented)

• College Readiness. Minnesota students, along with their peers across the country are increasingly unprepared for success in the academic environment of higher education. Well staffed, funded school library media programs provide students with cognitive and content skills needed for success in post secondary education and the world of work by focusing on reading, research, and technology skills.
• Key college readiness cognitive strategies include intellectual openness, inquisitiveness, interpretation, precision and accuracy, and problem solving. These strategies are all addressed within the context of effective school library media programs. (Key cognitive strategies identifed by David Conley in Toward a More Comprehensive Conception of College Readiness, 2007)

MDE staffing concerns (no school library specialist)

• There is not adequate staffing at the MDE to provide content expertise, support and advocacy for school library media specialists.
• There is no staffing at the MDE to provide guidance to schools in the instructional application of technology.
• MDE is not in touch with trends in education technology and the need to support schools in the development of technology infrastructure, best practices, and tools for student learning.

Mandatory completion of the School Library Survey each year by all libraries

• The Minnesota Department of Education needs to gather information to assess the impact on student achievement of the alarming rate of disintegration in school library media programs throughout the state. The positive impact of well funded, professionally staffed school library media programs is documented in several research studies. It is only a matter of time before the cuts to Minnesota school library media programs are seen in the levels of student achievement and academic success.

Minnesota Miracle II talking points

Libraries can support the NEW Minnesota Miracle legislation (HF4178) https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H4178.0.html&session=ls85 by attending the hearings listed here http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/schedule.asp?comm=4502 . Or sign up to represent MEMO/MLA Greilinghearings.

If you would like to testify, you can sign up at the hearing, or contact the local legislator from that area to insure they understand you want to testify.  To insure you get on the schedule, you can do both. 

The main points to emphasize (understanding that not all of you agree with all parts of the bill) are:

1. This legislation will provide significant support for education in all areas, including support for libraries in schools which are critical to student success
2. A holistic approach that includes a funding plan for support of public libraries insures students will be supported in and out of the school building
3. Access to technology is critical for students.  Insuring technology skills is often the role of the library and is supported by the student’s public libraries. 
4. Stable telecommunications funding support and the Minnesota Learning Network are a critical part of student and school success. 
5. A funding stream for school library media resources and technology should be established as part of the new Minnesota Miracle.  This could mean the dedication of School Endowment Fund revenue or it could come from the general fund, but it needs to be part of this plan to support student success.