The Power of Full-Time Certified School Librarians in Missouri

Boosting Student Achievement Across Disciplines

Abstract

This study examines the impact of school librarian full-time equivalent (FTE) levels on student achievement in Missouri using state-level assessment data. The researchers obtained publicly available, aggregated data directly from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MO DESE) to conduct statistical analyses on multiple districts, years, and content areas. The dataset included data points from Missouri K-12 public schools over a nine-year period. The analysis utilized ANOVA and post-hoc tests to compare proficiency rates across FTE levels (no librarian, part-time librarian, and full-time librarian) for each school level and content area. Results indicated that schools with full-time librarians had significantly higher proficiency rates compared to schools with part-time or no librarians. Furthermore, the effect sizes demonstrated the positive impact of having a school librarian on student achievement across school levels and content areas. This study provides evidence supporting the importance of school librarians in enhancing student performance on state-level assessments.