CSLA Tool Kit for Advocacy and Action

Assembly Bill 825, Chapter 871 (Statutes of 2004), consolidates 26 categorical programs into six block grants that will take effect in fiscal 2005-2006. Of importance and interest to schools is the School and Library Improvement Block Grant. Most schools are already familiar with the School Improvement Program (SIP) and with funding from the California Public School Library Act of 1998. AB 825 combines these two funds to create the School and Library Improvement Block Grant.

Because the School and Library Improvement Block Grant places decision-making power for library funding with school site councils, CSLA has prepared this tool kit for its members to use to educate, influence, and inform site councils. Check out the links below! And check back frequently for additions and revisions.

Background (PDF, 56k)
Provides you, a library employee, with a summary of the new block grant funding for school libraries.

Background Info for PR (PDF, 124k)
Provides a summary about the new block grant for those who do not work in school libraries. Ready to use for presentations, school site councils, parents, etc.

New Libraries DO Make a Difference! Chart
The data listed were gathered in research studies from 1993 to 2005 in sixteen states.

Q&A Brochure (PDF, 84k)
A copy-ready brochure about the new School and Library Improvement Block Grant to use with school site councils. Print in landscape (horizontal) mode. Requires Adobe Reader which if you don't have it, can be downloaded free at: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

PowerPoint Presentation for School Site Councils (PowerPoint, 644k)
If you have Microsoft PowerPoint software on your computer, you can show this ready-to-go presentation to your school site council. You can also adapt it to fit your school and district situation.

Worksheet: Collecting Data for the School Library Plan (Word, 68k)
A tool for gathering information about the school library that will help with library planning. Print in landscape (horizontal) format.

Template for the Single School Plan for Student Achievement (Word, 112k)
This is a Word document which was last revised by the California Department of Education 7/04. Provides a model for developing a single school plan but does not yet contain reference to the new block grant and the library plan component.

Official AB 825 Information from the California Department of Education
Information regarding the Categorical Education Block Grant established by Assembly Bill (AB) 825.