Introduction
Outreach services to schools within Multnomah County will be provided using an equity-based service model. Because current and historical systems within our society are not structured to best serve the needs of families of color, our service model starts with race first. We aim to help eliminate the opportunity gap that persists in Multnomah County between white students and students of color. Other criteria that reflect the breadth of influences on student success are built into the formula, including test scores and indication of poverty level.
This service model will be implemented in the 2019-2020 school year and will be revised based on stakeholder feedback, culturally responsive assessment, and library capacity.
Service Model Formula
Criteria listed below are weighted and cumulative. Most of the data is gleaned from the Oregon Department of Education's At-A-Glance School Report Cards.
- Race/ethnicity -- up to 7 points
- Ever English Learners (ODE category) --up to 6 points
- Reading scores (% of students meeting state grade level expectations) -- up to 5 points
- Percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch -- up to 4 points
- Math scores (% of students meeting state grae level expectations) -- up to 3 points
- No school librarian/library book buying budget -- up to 2 points
- No close/easy access to a public library location -- up to 1 point
The criteria and point system are used as a guide to place schools into tiers. Some exceptions will be made based on temporary or extenuating circumstances, programming sponsored by The Library Foundation, type of school not neatly fitting into a formula (like Donald E. Long or Dual Language Immersion Schools), etc. Larger school districts may be tiered at the school level, and smaller at the district level.
Please note:
- This symbol * denotes a service possibility in the future.
- Percentages are an estimate of how many schools will fall into each category.
Tiers of Service
- Embedded — 5% of schools
- Youth Services Manager works closely with district administration
- Outreach staff maintain robust and regular communication and collaboration with school staff
- Outreach staff are a regular presence at the school/district, following a model of embedding best practices
- Library Connect (Student ID Library Card) pilot site, as appropriate*
- Regular presence at family nights, services provided in multiple languages
- Strong collaboration and partnership with library location staff on service approach
- All school outreach services are available
- Full Suite of Service — 50%
- Youth Services Manager available to meet with district administration as needed
- Outreach staff maintain regular communication with school staff
- Most school outreach services are available
- Regular service promotion and marketing sent at the teacher level to schools via electronic newsletter and physical mailings as possible/appropriate
- Regular presence at family nights
- Strong collaboration and partnership with library staff on service approach
- Services by request — 40%
- This tier represents a crossroads in the service model. Schools will receive some of these services, but not all. Schools might qualify based on service criteria, but we may not have the staffing to provide all services to all schools.
- Regular service promotion and marketing
- All online/not-in-person services available, for example:
- Bibliographies/webliographies
- Bucket of Books
- Strong collaboration and partnership with library location staff on service approach
- Limited or no services available — 5%
- Possibly an unused or rarely used tier
- Top performing schools with very high percentage of dominant culture students who have nearby access to robust reading and educational opportunities fall into this tier
- Beginning of the school year service promotion will be sent
- Services provided upon request, but scheduled around higher tier schools, and only as available