Can school librarians make a difference in literacy rates?

Last month, the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) released its Vistas scores for the 2023-2024 academic year. The results showed that 39% of students in the state are proficient or above in reading, with the Magdalena and Socorro districts at 30% and 36%, respectively. These results can be disappointing, and as with any type of data, there is much to consider. This last week, I kept chewing on this issue as I reflected on these findings.

During the first autumn of COVID-19, I found myself revamping four school libraries. It was my first experience working in a school, and I was immediately thrown into the chaos of that time in education. Only one of the four schools had a full-time, long-term librarian. When I reviewed their NM Vista scores, I wasn’t surprised to find that the school with a librarian had a 60% proficiency in reading and was the highest score in the district.

A common and disappointing trend I’ve noticed is that librarians have been disappearing from schools. Too often, I’ve seen dedicated librarians retire, and the position is removed or given as a part-time position to a teacher aide. Although a teacher aide is certainly capable of bringing passion, in reality, they don’t usually have the longevity to offer consistency nor are offered the appropriate training.

To improve literacy scores, students need to be engaged in reading, and librarians play a crucial role in that. The school I mentioned earlier is located in a rural, low-income area and has a small trailer for a library and an even smaller budget.

I can’t help but attribute a significant amount of their literacy success to their librarian. She’s warm and approachable, has been there for decades and personally knows every child and their family. She understands the children’s interests and carefully selects books they will enjoy. Her superpower? she has read every book in the library so she know which one to recommend to each student.

Another thing I loved about her was her solidarity with me when I started introducing loads of graphic novels, which made me quite unpopular with teachers.

With their exciting illustrations and minimal text, graphic novels can expose children to the joy of reading. They build confidence in young readers, and I’ve seen the pride a child feels when they finish a book for the first time. For those overwhelmed by reading, graphic novels can serve as a helpful bridge to chapter books.

During my time at the schools, Dog Man was so popular that the kids would trade, bribe and negotiate with each other; what could possibly make a librarian more happy?

Another thing I’ve been thinking about was the shock I experienced at how many school days are devoted to testing. During those weeks, the classroom atmosphere is palpable; students seem drained and overwhelmed, their energy visibly sapped. It’s hard to imagine that we will receive accurate results when the kids are so exhausted and stressed. Are we testing our kids too much?

Another concern that came to mind that I believe could be improved in schools is family engagement. I’ve had kids in five different New Mexico school districts and even had a kid in a Waldorf program, and I can’t say I’ve ever felt like a welcome partner in my kids’ education. As an advocate for students, I noticed many parents felt the same way. There is a significant disconnect between parents and school staff, and kids are aware of it—they sometimes will exploit this gap.

A mother whose child was two grade levels behind in reading came to me and expressed frustration after a parent-teacher conference. When teachers suggested she read to her child, she felt it was their job, not hers. This perspective surprised me, because I’ve always thought reading to your child was one of the most rewarding parts of parenting. I think her feelings illustrates the need for an encouraging and positive partnership between schools and parents.

We have to remember that literacy rates are undeniably tied to math and science performance. If a child struggles with reading, it becomes challenging to excel in other subjects. We have an opportunity for parents and school districts to confront this issue honestly and take action.

I’m just a parent who wants the best for our kids. I know education is a complicated matter, so please take my opinions with a grain of salt but I think it’s worth starting the conversation.

What are your thoughts on tackling low literacy rates?