Fewer schools keep librarians on staff | California Watch

Fewer schools keep librarians on staff | California Watch:

Fewer schools keep librarians on staff

Eleanor Yang Su

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Fewer than 1 out of 4 schools in California is staffed with a credentialed librarian, according to the state Department of Education.
Recent figures compiled by the department show there are about 900 school librarians in the state – that’s down from more than 1,100 two years ago.
From Los Angeles to San Mateo and Fullerton, school districts have cut librarian positions this year to cope with state budget cuts. Increasing numbers of schools are splitting one librarian between multiple campuses or

Community college task force amends disputed student success plan

Erica Perez

alejandrophotography/istockphoto.com

A task force that has been selling a sweeping package of reforms aimed at increasing student success in the California Community Colleges has removed several proposed changes from the plan in an attempt to assuage concerns about cuts to special services and negative consequences for some students.
The plan’s 22 recommendations [PDF] focus on improving the rates at which community college students earn degrees or certificates, transfer to a four-year university or achieve their job-training goals.
The 20-member task force – which includes trustees, campus presidents, business representatives, faculty and