MAME AID
"Need Professional Guidance?"
Certification and the MDE.
Intellectual Freedom ("When you have a book challenge").
Certification and the MDE
Information from Krista D. Ried, Teacher Quality Coordinator, Office of Professional Preparation Services,
Michigan Department of Education, 517-373-0699.
Go HERE for certification information.
If the position as a school librarian requires INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, then the librarian is required to have a valid Michigan teaching certificate with a Library Media (ND) endorsement.
This is stated in Administrative Rule R390.1105. The State Board of Education has approved standards for the preparation of school librarians to ensure that school children have the opportunity to interact with qualified librarians.
Instructional responsibilities include anything beyond clerical work...
checking in books, cataloging, maintaining inventory, etc. are the basic clerical tasks in a library. Assisting with locating books using Dewey Decimal System, instruction on research, or even reading aloud to students is considered instructional and requires appropriate certification.
Also note, when staffing a school librarian position in grades K-5, a teacher with a valid elementary certificate (K-5 all subjects or K-8 all subjects) may be assigned to the position with or without the ND endorsement.
If the Certification Rule is Violated
Schools are required by law to identify the assignment of educational personnel on the REP (Registry of Educational Personnel) and we monitor that data. Also with the requirements of No Child Left Behind, we have been able to use this law to support monitoring visits and detailed checking of the REP in correlation with our teacher certification licensing system.
Schools that have inappropriately placed a teacher or paraprofessional are subject to State Aid penalties equaling the amount that the teacher or para was paid for the duration of time they were inappropriately assigned. Also, administrators are also subject to fines for knowingly placing the teacher in the position. NCLB allows us to withhold Title II funds as well.
Intellectual Freedom
Part of MAME's mission is to support intellectual freedom and access to information. If you are faced with a challenge, please contact MAME's Intellectual Freedom Chair:
Susan Gilmore
sgilmore@airport.k12.mi.us
734 654 6208 x196 (phone)
734 654 8370 (fax)
or MAME Headquarters:
Roger Ashley, Executive Director
517 394 2808 (phone)
517 394 2096 (fax)
MAME has published a comprehensive manual on intellectual freedom, which is available for purchase ($10) by contacting MAME headquarters: Intellectual Freedom Manual for School Library Media Centers: What To Do Before the Censor Comes
Intellectual Freedom resources on the web:
American Association of School Librarians: Resource Guide for School Library Media Programs: Intellectual Freedom
American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom
Banned Books Week
ALA Workbook for Writing Selection Policies
Freedom to Read Foundation
American Civil Liberties Union
ACLU Free Speech Statements