New District Library Plan Data Collection Tool

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is excited to announce the launch of a new data collection tool in WISEadmin Portal to collect information about district long-range plans for library services as required through Wisconsin Administrative Code PI8.01(2)(h). Board approved district library plans have been a part of library programming since PI8 was created in 1974. Most recently, school districts reported the status of their library plan through the Digital Learning Survey. This change in reporting will allow for more accurate and timely data collection, increasing the visibility and accountability for library planning to support strengthening school library programming throughout our state.

Creating and authentically implementing a library plan allows for demonstration of program growth and effectiveness. It provides for communication with stakeholders and focused attention on library program priorities aligned with other district work. The DPI has provided ongoing professional learning opportunities for the development of these plans by sponsoring library media specialists’ participation in online courses through the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), workshops at all twelve CESAs, conference presentations, and individual coaching sessions from the School Library Media Education Consultant, Monica Treptow, since 2018. This has resulted in an increase in the number of districts with implemented plans, yet our current data shows 28% of districts in compliance with this requirement. We are hopeful this new collection method will not only provide more accurate data but will also allow the DPI to provide additional assistance where needed.

The new tool is located in WISEadmin Portal, and the data elements will be entered by the district administrator with access to this area. The information entered will include the date of board approval, implementation years, the district library media specialist contact information, and a link to the plan itself. Districts will be able to enter this data year-round, which will allow for flexibility in district planning. After initial entry, the district will be able to update it as needed. The DPI will be capturing this data every year as part of the December WISEdata snapshot.

Library media specialists are encouraged to discuss the status of district library plans with their administration. If plans are currently board approved and in implementation, library media specialists can provide information to WISEadmin Portal administrators to upload. If library plan creation is in progress, library media specialists and their district collaborators are encouraged to make completion a goal for the 2023-24 school year. Please refer to the Library Planning Infographic and other information on the Future Ready Library Planning webpage for talking points and support materials.