Advocacy Tools
Urgent Action! Save COMPASS funding!
The recently enacted FY 2026–27 state budget eliminates COMPASS funding after July 1, 2027, ending the state’s $5.5 million investment in the program. Unfortunately, CSLA’s efforts to restore this funding were unsuccessful in the August budget revision.
However,
it’s not too late to restore COMPASS funding. It is still possible to fund COMPASS in the 2027–28 state budget. To make this happen, we need CSLA members to meet with representatives throughout the state in October to talk about the critical importance of COMPASS and the resources it provides to California students and teachers.
CONTACT YOUR REP
- Find your representatives using the Find Your California Representative map.
- Email your Senator and/or Assemblymember to request a meeting. You will be meeting with them as both a constituent and a CSLA member.
- Once your meeting is scheduled, email Sasha at governme...@csla.net so we can keep track of meetings and provide any support you need.
- Meet with your Senator and/or Assemblymember and use these Talking Points to guide the conversation.
- After your meeting, email Sasha a follow-up with a few details about how the meeting went.
Don't want to go at it alone? Fill out this form to organize in your area. A volunteer will reach out to help connect you with library staff in your district.
MEDIA KIT
Shop our media kit around with local and statewide media outlets to help encourage more conversation about COMPASS.
Please spread the word!
Share this effort with your networks, including teachers, teachers’ associations, PTOs, and library organizations. The more constituents who speak up about the importance of COMPASS, the more visible this issue will be.
Become a School Library Advocate!
We also believe that every member is a library advocate. Your work locally is as necessary as our legislative work.
On this page, we will be growing toolkits for you to use in your advocacy including targeted toolkits on:
- How to speak to issue locally,
- How to get on school board agenda,
- How to get libraries on school board elections agendas
- How to access funding via LCFF and other state literacy grants
- How to advocate at your school site,
- How to advocate within your union.
If you have experience in any of these areas and have resources to share, we'd love to have you on our team!
Photo by JuliaC2006. Obtained through Flickr Creative Commons.
Are you ready to Start Growing your Advocacy?
One place to get started is developing a habit of communicating with elected officials. See our new toolkit on how to communicate with elected officials below.
Get to know your Teacher Librarians And Classified Library Staff
One of the first steps in advocacy is educating co-workers, administrators, parents, and communities about the unique and essential services provided by credentialed teacher librarians and qualified classifed library staff. Click on the button to see the CA Teacher Credentialing Office's chart on different staffing levels and their authorized responsibilities.
What Does EdCode Say about School Libraries?
- Section 18100.
- The governing board of each school district shall provide school library services for the pupils and teachers of the district by establishing and maintaining school libraries or by contractual arrangements with another public agency.
- Services provided by non-credentialed personnel shall not include those activities requiring possession of a valid Teacher Librarian Services Credential.
- Section 18120.
- The governing board of a school district maintaining its own library or libraries may appoint a librarian or librarians to staff the libraries provided they qualify as librarians pursuant to Section 44868.
- Section 44868.
- No person shall be employed as a library media teacher in any elementary or secondary school, unless he or she holds a valid credential of proper grade authorizing service as a library media teacher or a valid teaching credential issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing if he or she has completed the specialized area of librarianship.
Is your school facing cuts or layoffs?
If your library program is facing cuts, reductions, or potential layoffs, CSLA is here to support you. One way we can help is by providing a personalized letter of support to your school board or site administration that advocates for the value and impact of your library program.
To request a letter, simply complete our Google form with key details about your situation, your school community, and your library services.
Our team will use this information to craft a tailored, professional letter that we can send on your behalf. Our goal is to amplify your voice and ensure decision-makers understand the essential role school libraries and library staff play in student success.
The Model School Library Standards: What a library program should look like & What Teacher Librarians Teach
