As a concerned parent and advocate for quality education, I am writing to express my deep concern about the declining presence of certified teacher-librarians in Washington State's schools. I firmly believe that every student deserves access to a certified teacher-librarian, as these professionals provide invaluable support and guidance beyond the bookshelves in our school libraries. Here are some key facts that highlight the critical role teacher-librarians play in our children's education: - Teacher-librarians teach students to balance their use of technology with real life, ensuring they develop healthy habits in our increasingly digital world. - They empower students to find, evaluate, and ethically use resources, fostering essential research and digital literacy skills. - Teacher-librarians provide crucial support to classroom teachers, assisting with digital resources, lesson planning, and technology integration. - They create safe and inclusive spaces where all students can learn, explore, and thrive. Despite the clear benefits of having certified teacher-librarians in our schools, Washington is ranked 32nd in the nation for the student-to-teacher-librarian ratio. Yet school library staffing has been declining for over a decade in Washington, with a significant drop of 10.5% in 2020 alone, followed by decreases of 31.3% in 2021 and 28.9% in 2022. This trend disproportionately affects students from disadvantaged backgrounds, historically marginalized populations, and rural communities. Even in affluent areas like Bellevue, qualified teacher-librarians have been replaced with under-trained paraprofessionals, and many schools are only staffed part-time, limiting the impact of library programs on student achievement. It's crucial that we prioritize improving school library staffing for all Washington students. Qualified teacher-librarians are credentialed educators with specific training in running high-quality school library programs. They curate collections, teach research and digital literacy, and foster curiosity through innovative programs, all while supporting teachers in instruction and technology integration. Decades of research have consistently demonstrated the academic and social-emotional benefits of access to qualified teacher-librarians, including improved test scores and better college/career preparedness. Furthermore, funding for qualified teacher-librarians and library materials is explicitly outlined in Washington's prototypical funding model (RCW 28A.320.240), emphasizing the importance of these positions in our schools. Unfortunately, many districts in Washington utilize a loophole that allows them to remove school librarians and divert library funding for other purposes. This practice deprives our students of the numerous documented benefits of access to qualified teacher-librarians. As my elected representative, I urge you to take action to ensure that all students in Washington have access to qualified teacher-librarians. Please support legislation or initiatives that prioritize funding for certified teacher-librarian positions and strengthen accountability measures to prevent the misuse of library funding. I encourage you to investigate who runs the school library program in our district and inquire about their training and qualifications. Our students deserve access to the best possible educational resources and support, and certified teacher-librarians are indispensable to achieving this goal. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I look forward to your support in advocating for the educational rights of all Washington students.

Support for teacher-librarians is crucial for the advancement of education and the nurturing of young minds. Let's champion the vital role teacher-librarians play in promoting literacy, fostering a love for reading, and providing valuable resources for both students and educators. Please insist that funding designated for school libraries in the Prototypical Funding Model for education, per RCW 28A.320.240, is used to hire qualified teacher-librarians and fund robust school library programs in all Washington schools.

I am writing to you today because I am alarmed by the decline of certified teacher-librarians and school library programs in Washington. This is a significant issue stemming from inadequate education funding in our state and a lack of enforcement of current education laws, specifically RCW 28A.320.240. The decline in access to teacher-librarians is not just a statistic, but a harsh reality. Access to teacher-librarians is plummeting, with a 32nd national ranking and a concerning 10.5% drop in the 2019-2020 school year alone. This worrying trend continued with a decrease of 31.3% in 2020-2021 and 28.9% in 2021-2022. The loss of teacher-librarians disproportionately affects marginalized and rural communities, who, studies show, benefit the most from having a qualified teacher-librarian. Funding for qualified Teacher-Librarians and library materials is part of Washington’s prototypical funding model. RCW 28A.320.240 states that on-site qualified Teacher-Librarians should staff school library technology programs. Regrettably, many districts in Washington utilize a loophole that permits them to remove school librarians and use school library funding for other purposes. This practice deprives students of the numerous documented academic and social-emotional benefits of access to qualified Teacher-Librarians. Teacher-librarians do more than shelve books. They teach digital literacy, support teachers, and create safe spaces for all students. Decades of research show that teacher-librarians improve test scores and college readiness. Yet, across our state, from rural outposts to affluent areas like Bellevue, we're witnessing the replacement of teacher-librarians with under-trained clerks and paraprofessionals. While clerks and paraprofessionals have important roles to play in a healthy school library, they should not be a replacement for a certificated teacher-librarian, any more than a paraprofessional in the classroom should be expected to teach Algebra. In an act that furthers inequity in our state, schools in many districts across Washington do not have a school library program at all. This gross misuse of resources and betrayal of our students' educational needs is unacceptable. Districts across Washington are exploiting loopholes to divert library funding to other district priorities. In addition to supporting literacy in the school, Qualified Teacher-Librarians: teach students to balance their use of technology with “real” life, show students how to find, evaluate, and ethically use resources, provide essential support to classroom teachers, especially with digital resources, lesson planning, and technology, and create safe spaces where all students can learn and explore. We need legislation that ensures all students have access to qualified teacher-librarians. Please prioritize funding for these positions and enforce accountability measures to prevent misuse of library funds. Our students deserve better. Let's make it happen.