The status of learning media services with regard to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' requirements : a comparative study

This study focused on a selected number of area public high schools which included all those in Knox County and nine others comparable to those in Knox County. The purpose of the study was to determine to what degree these schools are meeting the learning media program principles and standards established by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This study was to determine if there were major differences between the existing media services in Knox County and those of adjoining systems in such areas as financial provisions; selection of materials and equipment for acquisition; classifying, cataloging, and processing of materials and equipment; accessibility of educational media; maintenance of collection; environment; furnishings; equipment; resources; media personnel; and the media program.

"Learning Media Services," which is Section 6 of Evaluative Criteria, 5th Edition, 1978, produced by the National Study of School Evaluation, served as the survey instrument used in this study. Media specialists, department chairmen, and principals from the participating schools responded to both the objective and subjective questions required by the evaluation tool.

The study indicated that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' standards are indeed valuable as professional goals, and at this point all Knox County high school learning media programs do not meet the specified requirements either in the areas of materials and/or personnel due to inadequate funding. Recommendations should be made by system administrators to Knox County Board of Education and to the county court for support to promote the expansion of the learning media programs to the point of meeting the standards required for maintaining accreditation.

The results of the study indicated that a follow-up study is needed to determine if more uniformity should exist among the regional accrediting agencies and the state departments of education, and even, perhaps, the profession's own adopted standards.

The objective of all the agencies concerned is to provide measures whereby quality media programs are insured. Each agency establishes and enforces minimum standards in schools under its jurisdiction while encouraging improvement in the process; however, the different agencies tend to vary in their areas of emphasis. Is it still possible to accredit an institution as a whole; or are educational institutions-even secondary schools-made up of such distinct and specialized programs that "specialized" accrediting agencies are needed?