<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(253,253,253)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small"><i>Another</i> opportunity to provide input to support school libraries (this one at the <i>National</i> Level versus the State):</span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(253,253,253)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(253,253,253)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small">I received an email asking me to pass on this request (<em>see below</em>) to respond to a <b>US Department of Education</b> survey through my role as an ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Affiliate rep.</span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(253,253,253)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small">The survey is <i><strong>very short</strong> </i>and includes open-ended questions.  [5 questions: 2-demographics; 3-responses]</span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(253,253,253)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small">This may be a great way for school library supporters to respond to indicate:</span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(253,253,253)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small">the priority and need for Effective School Library Programs and School Librarians,</span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(253,253,253)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small">as well as to request Regional Center support for effective school library programs.</span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(253,253,253)"><div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small">[I believe the<span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span><span style="color:red">deadline to submit a survey response is August 18</span>]</span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small"><i>Michigan is 41st on 4th Grade Reading achievement per NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress); and is 47th in the ratio of students per certified school library media specialist.</i></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small">Thank you!  Let me know if you have any questions,</span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.6667px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,freesans,sans-serif;font-size:small">--Kathy Lester</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div><div><div><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt"><div><div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The US Department of Education is requesting YOUR input on educational needs in your region!</b><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The survey requests feedback on the most pressing educational issues and how the Department of Education’s Comprehensive Centers can provide assistance to address those issues. The Department
 of Education would appreciate feedback from anyone who has an interest in the current state of education and ideas for where improvements are most needed. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Please complete the online survey </span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PML2GPN" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">https://www.surveymonke<wbr>y.com/r/PML2GPN</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> at
 your earliest convenience.  It would be appreciated if you could add your state and/or region into the text box, although this information is not specifically requested.  Information will be compiled by regions, when possible, in order to best support each
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">There are Regional Advisory Committees whose members are interested in gathering more detailed information as well.  If you feel that you have additional information to share, please contact
 the Regional Advisory Committee members in your region and share with them.  The deadline for the information gathering portion of this project is August 18, so don’t delay!  </span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Here is some context for how the gathered information will be used:</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The Comprehensive Centers (Centers <span style="color:rgb(0,97,255)"><a href="http://www2.ed.gov/programs/newccp/index.html" target="_blank">http://www2.ed.gov/pr<wbr>ograms/newccp/index.html</a></span>) program is authorized
 by Title II of the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 (ETAA), Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA) of 2002. The Department of Education (Department) funds these Centers to provide technical assistance to State education agencies (SEAs) that builds
 SEA capacity to: support local educational agencies (LEAs or districts) and schools, especially low-performing districts and schools; improve educational outcomes for all students; close achievement gaps; and improve the quality of instruction. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Before a competition for the Centers program is held, the ETAA requires the establishment of ten</span><span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></span><strong><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Regional
 Advisory Committees (RACs)</span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">. The purpose of these committees is to collect information on the educational needs of each of the ten regions. To the extent the Secretary deems appropriate, the Department
 will use the information submitted by the RACs, along with other relevant regional surveys of needs, to establish priorities for the next cohort of Centers.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thanks for taking the time to read this message, and complete the survey!</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Survey: </span>
<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PML2GPN" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r<wbr>/PML2GPN</span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
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</div>Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA<br>MAME Advocacy Chair, Past-President 2014<br>School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach<div>East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools<br><i>2012 </i><i>State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner</i><br><a href="mailto:kathyL@mimame.org" target="_blank">kathyL@mimame.org</a><br><br></div></div>
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