[WLA-All] [ALAWON] We need your help TODAY to Support Library MediaSpecialists

[Brian Greene]

FYI...we have short notice on this.
If you can please considering submitting comments.
    Brian @ WLA spring meeting in Casper

>>> "ALAWASH E-MAIL" <ALAWASH at alawash.org> 04/18/08 12:25 PM >>>
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American Library Association
Washington Office Newsline

ALAWON
Volume 17, Number 009
April 18, 2008 

________________________________

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
<http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/teach
grantsinfo.doc>  (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.



________________________________

ALAWON Editor:
Andy Bridges 


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