SB 203: Pupil instruction: digital citizenship and media literacy.

Existing law provides for a system of public schools and requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to include instruction in specified areas of study.

This bill would require, on or before December 1, 2018, the State Department of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, executive director of the State Board of Education, to identify best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy and to report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature on strategies to implement the best practices and recommendations statewide. The bill would require the Superintendent to convene and consult with an advisory committee consisting of specified representatives in developing the best practices and recommendations. The bill would require each school district, beginning in the 201920 school year, to annually review its policy and procedures on digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy in accordance with specified requirements. By imposing new duties on school districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.