HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2530        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3556

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

David M. Rogers

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relating to digital citizenship and media literacy in public schools.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2530        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3556

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act relating to digital citizenship and media literacy in public schools.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 98. (a) The following words, as used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires or a different meaning is specifically prescribed, shall have the following meanings:

“Digital citizenship”, skills related to consumption and production of media, digital products, current technology and social media use, including, but not limited to, model appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior and cyberbullying prevention.

“Media literacy”, the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, develop, produce, and interpret media, and encompasses the foundational skills that lead to digital citizenship.

(b) (1)The department of elementary and secondary education shall identify best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship and media literacy, and report to the joint committee on education on strategies to implement the best practices and recommendations statewide. The best practices and recommendations shall be developed in consultation with an advisory committee, as established in paragraph (2). Best practices and recommendations shall include provide: (i) guidance regarding thoughtful, safe, and strategic uses of online and other media resources and (ii) educational methods to teach the application of critical-thinking skills when consuming and producing media.

(2) The department of elementary and secondary education shall convene and consult an advisory committee when developing best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy. The advisory committee shall include: (i) experts in digital citizenship, internet safety and media literacy, including, but not limited to, academic experts and state and national non-profit organizations; and  (ii) other stakeholders, including teacher-librarians, parent organizations, educators, and administrators. Recommendations produced by the committee shall include, but shall not limited to: (i) revisions to the state learning standards or the state educational technology plan; (ii) revisions to any model policies and procedures regarding digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy developed by educators, associations or other groups within the commonwealth, or by other states or national groups; (iii) school district processes necessary to develop customized district policies and procedures regarding electronic resources and internet safety to be used within a district technology plan; (iv) best practices, resources, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy; (v) best practices, resources, and models for instruction of digital citizenship, including media literacy, that are compliant with federal E-rate programs and the federal Children's Internet Protection Act; and (vi) strategies that will support school districts in local implementation of the best practices and recommendations developed by the department of elementary and secondary education, including strategies for delivering professional development to educators and administrators.

(c) Each city, town, regional school district, charter school or vocational school district shall annually review its policy and procedures on digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy. In reviewing and amending the policy and procedures, the city, town, regional  school district, charter school or vocational school district shall: (1) consult a representation of parents or guardians, teachers, teacher-librarians, other school employees, administrators, students, and community representatives with experience or expertise in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy issues; (2) study the benefits of customizing any model policy and procedures developed by the department of elementary and secondary education; (3) study existing school resources; and (4) study best practices, resources, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy, including methods to involve parents.

SECTION 2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall report to the joint committee on education as provided in section 1 no later than 9 months after the effective date of this act.