title: Haves, Halves, and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement in
 California
creator: Achterman, Douglas L.
contributor: Martin, Barbara Stein
contributor: Du, Yunfei
contributor: Loertscher, David
contributor: Totten, Herman L.
publisher: University of North Texas
date: 2008-12
language: English
description: This descriptive, non-experimental study examines the strength of
 the relationship between California school library media programs and student
 achievement, using data from California criterion-referenced state-wide tests,
 publically available school and community demographic data, and a state survey
 of school library programs.  Results indicate a substantial discrepancy in
 library staffing levels from the elementary grades through the high schools.
 Nevertheless, statistically significant correlations were found between
 certificated staffing levels and student achievement at each grade.
 Significant correlations persisted at the elementary and middle school when
 controlling for five of six school and community variables, and at the high
 school when controlling for all six of those variables. Bivariate correlations
 between total staffing and student achievement were significant at both the
 middle school and high school level when controlling for all school and
 community variables. Generally, the strength of the correlations between both
 certificated and total staffing tended to increase with grade level; at the
 high school level, correlations were among the strongest reported in any
 statewide study to date. There was a significant positive relationship between
 a majority of the 21 library services regularly provided and student
 achievement at all levels. Total library services were significantly related
 to student achievement at all levels when controlling for all school and
 community variables. In multiple regression analyses, there was an
 increasingly stronger relationship between total library programs and student
 achievement by grade level when controlling for all school and community
 variables. At every level, certificated and total staffing levels were
 associated with the strength of library program elements. The findings from
 this study confirm a host of prior research on the relationship between school
 libraries and student achievement and point to inequitable access to school
 library services in California. Results from this study might also provide a
 baseline of data for qualitative research that more deeply explores ways
 school library programs contribute to student achievement beyond ways measured
 by current standardized tests.
subject: School libraries
subject: school library history
subject: library media specialists
subject: California
subject: student achievement
subject: education
subject: School libraries -- California.
subject: Academic achievement -- California.
rights: Public
rights: Copyright
rights: Achterman, Douglas L.
rights: Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights
 reserved.
type: Thesis or Dissertation
format: Text
identifier: oclc: 436270792
identifier: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9800/
identifier: ark: ark:/67531/metadc9800