A National Plan for Implementation of the AASL Standards for the
21st-Century Learner and Empowering Learners:
Guidelines for School Library Programs
This implementation plan was created by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) to support states, school systems, and individual schools preparing to implement the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner and Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs. The plan will also increase awareness and understanding of the learning standards and guidelines and create a committed group of stakeholders with a shared voice.
While the learning standards and guidelines define what "should be" in terms of information literacy, research through guided inquiry, and the integration of technology in the traditional school context, they also acknowledge varied and new forms of teaching and learning in a social and global context. Foundational to this plan is the fundamental value of reading, core content, and mastery of skills that produce deep knowledge and understanding, as well as the portable skills that serve individuals for a lifetime, making them critical thinkers, problem solvers, and continually evolving learners. To this end, the implementation plan addresses the practical realization of these important skills and values as it:
- identifies guiding principles and an overarching position and branding statement;
- identifies target audiences (internal and external);
- identifies training opportunities and resources;
- provides a communication plan;
- provides a plan for continuous feedback, evaluation, and sustainability;
- provides a plan for endorsements and support; and
- provides supporting documents.
The plan is available online at www.ala.org/aasl/learning4life.
