HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2677        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 561

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 relative to media literacy in public schools.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2677        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 561

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to 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:
 

Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-

Section 98. (a) For purposes of this section, "media literacy" shall be considered a broad term that encompasses consumption and production of media and digital products and is defined as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and take action with all forms of communication, and encompasses the foundational skills of digital citizenship and internet safety including the norms of appropriate, responsible, healthy behavior, and cyberbullying prevention.

(b) The department of education shall convene a working group to assess and recommend revisions to policies and procedures on media literacy, including digital citizenship and internet safety, aligning K- 12 Standards, Curriculum Frameworks and other guidance materials as appropriate with national standards, best practices and definitions of media literacy in all subjects. The working group shall consult experts in media literacy including but not limited to academic experts and non-profit organizations; and other stakeholders, including teachers, librarians, parent organizations, educators, administrators and students. The department of education shall encourage each district to do the same on an annual basis.

(c) The department of education shall create a web-based location to recommended successful practices and resources and work with the K–12 community and other stakeholders to identify and develop additional Open Educational Resources to support media literacy education in schools.

(d) The department of education shall: provide support for professional development for teachers and teacher-librarians focused on integrating media literacy in all core subjects, in alignment with K-12 Standards, and create guidelines for a comprehensive professional development program. The department shall encourage and provide opportunities for teacher trainings in media literacy/ digital citizenship with a focus on embedding critical evaluation skills into the curriculum aligned to existing learning standards and requires such trainings be subject to assessment for long term efficacy.

(e) The department of education shall survey districts’ administrators, teachers, and library information and technology programs to understand how each district is currently integrating media literacy education in the curriculum and determine ways in which a coordinated effort can support media literacy across all grades and content areas. The department of education shall consult with an advisory committee of stakeholders for survey contents. 

(f) The department of education shall conduct an annual survey using the same language as the baseline initial survey to understand where educators need support in the implementation of media literacy competencies embedded in curriculum and to determine ways a coordinated effort can support media literacy across all grades and content areas. The survey will measure yearly impact, growth and need.

(g) The department shall report to the legislature annually, beginning on June 1, 2021, on the department's progress, and deliver the initial report to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House no later than one year after the effective date of this act.