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.

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, in consultation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 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.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

SB 203 (Jackson) - Pupil instruction: digital citizenship and media literacy

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), on or before December 1, 2018 and in consultation with an advisory committee, to identify best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy.

Fiscal Impact:

• The California Department of Education estimates a cost of about $727,000 to convene a new advisory committee to develop best practices and recommendations as prescribed by this bill, which assumes similar support costs for the existing Instructional Quality Commission. These costs would support 5.0 PY’s, advisory committee meetings, travel, a recording contract, and press editing.
• There would also be local cost pressure to implement the best practices and recommendations, including new content standards. To implement any new courses, school districts would have to purchase instructional materials and either hire appropriate teachers or provide professional development to existing teachers. These costs would not be reimbursable by the state.

Background:

Existing law requires SPI to establish procedures within the CDE to accomplish, among other things, all of the following:

1. Annually identify the critical needs for which effective educational programs and practices are to be identified, developed, and disseminated to public schools.
2. Coordinate the identification and development of effective programs and practices with appropriate offices in the California Department of Education, schools, school districts, county offices of education, institutions of higher education, the Legislature, business and industry, and the community.
3. Ensure that all programs developed under this article are objectively evaluated for impact on pupil learning, cost effectiveness, and the overall instructional program.
4. Develop and implement procedures to ensure that educators throughout the state are made aware of the effective programs and practices identified under this article.

Existing law establishes the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) as an advisory body to the Board on curriculum and instruction. It is responsible for recommending curriculum frameworks, developing criteria for the evaluation of instructional materials, evaluating and recommending adoption of instructional materials. Further, existing law requires the IQC, on or before July 31, 2019, to consider developing and recommending to the state board computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts.

Proposed Law:

This bill requires the SPI, on or before December 1, 2018 and in consultation with the 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 report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature on strategies to implement the best practices and recommendations statewide. This bill requires the best practices and recommendations to be developed in consultation with an advisory committee, convened by the SPI, which must include representatives from all of the following: the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, the California School Boards Association, experts in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy, and other stakeholders, including pupils, certificated teacher librarians, parent organizations, diverse current classroom teachers, and administrators. The advisory committee shall be comprised of a majority of certificated teacher librarians and current certificated classroom teachers with experience teaching media literacy.

The bill specifies that recommendations from the advisory committee may include, but are not limited to:

1. Revisions to the state learning standards and the state educational technology plan.
2. Model policies and procedures on digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy developed by the School Superintendents Association.
3. School district processes necessary to develop customized school district policies and procedures on electronic resources and Internet safety that can be used within a school district technology plan.
4. Best practices, resources, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy.
5. Best practices, resources, and models for instruction that are compliant with the federal Universal Service E-rate program administered by the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company and federal mandates established in the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act.
6. Strategies that will support school districts in local implementation of the best practices and recommendations developed by the department, including strategies for delivering professional development to educators and administrators.

Related Legislation:

SB 135 (Dodd, 2017) would require the Instructional Quality Commission to develop, and the State Board of Education to adopt, modify, or revise, a model curriculum in media literacy for social sciences for grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Benjamin Allen, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: SB 203 Hearing Date: April 19, 2017

Subject: Pupil instruction: digital citizenship and media literacy

SUMMARY

This bill requires the California Department of Education (CDE), on or before December 1, 2018 and in consultation with Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and an advisory committee, 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.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1) Requires SPI to establish procedures within the CDE to accomplish, among other things, all of the following:

(a) Annually identify the critical needs for which effective educational programs and practices are to be identified, developed, and disseminated to public schools.

(b) Coordinate the identification and development of effective programs and practices with appropriate offices in the CDE, schools, school districts, county offices of education, institutions of higher education, the Legislature, business and industry, and the community.

(c) Ensure that all programs developed under this article are objectively evaluated for impact on pupil learning, cost effectiveness, and the overall instructional program.

(d) Develop and implement procedures to ensure that educators throughout the state are made aware of the effective programs and practices identified under this article. (Education Code § 33321)

2) Requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC), on or before July 31, 2019, to consider developing and recommending to the state board computer science content standards for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by a group of computer science experts. (EC § 60605.4)

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the California Department of Education (CDE), on or before December 1, 2018 and in consultation with Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and an advisory committee, 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. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the best practices and recommendations to be developed in consultation with an advisory committee, convened by the SPI, which must include representatives from all of the following:
   1. California County Superintendents Educational Services Association.
   2. California School Boards Association.
   3. Experts in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy.
   4. Other stakeholders, including teacher librarians, parent organizations, educators, and administrators.
2. Specifies that recommendations from the advisory committee may include, but are not limited to:
   1. Revisions to the state learning standards and the state educational technology plan.
   2. Revisions to the model policies and procedures on digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy developed by the School Superintendents Association.
   3. School district processes necessary to develop customized school district policies and procedures on electronic resources and Internet safety that can be used within a school district technology plan.
   4. Best practices, resources, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy.
   5. Best practices, resources, and models for instruction of digital citizenship that are compliant with the federal Universal Service E-rate program administered by the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company and federal mandates established in the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act.
   6. Strategies that will support school districts in local implementation of the best practices and recommendations developed by the department, including strategies for delivering professional development to educators and administrators.
3. Requires each school district, beginning in the 2019-20 school year, to review its policy and procedures on digital citizenship, Internet safety, and medial literacy, and in reviewing and amending its policies and procedures, requires school districts to do all of the following:
   1. Involve a representation of parents or guardians, teachers, teacher librarians, other school employees, school administrators, pupils, and community representatives with experience or expertise in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy issues.
   2. Consider customizing the model policy and procedures on electronic resources and Internet safety.
   3. Consider existing school district resources.
   4. Consider best practices, resources, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy, including methods to involve parents.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “As kids and teens in California use the immense power of technology and digital medial to explore, connect, create, and learn in ways never before imagined, they face incredible opportunities as well as potential pitfalls. By creating a pathway to incorporate instruction on digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy into California’s public schools, SB 203 will help our kids learn how to safely, responsibly, and effectively use the extraordinary media and technology resources available to them.”

“Currently, there do not exist standards for teaching students about aspects of digital citizenship (i.e., cyber bullying, sexting, privacy, digital footprints, and ‘fake news’). Educators are faced with the often overwhelming challenges presented by technology usage by students. SB 203 would establish an advisory board comprised of education experts, working in tandem with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s office, to develop best practices and strategies that support school districts, including professional development for educators and administrators.”

1. Clarifying the process. This bill requires the California Department of Education (CDE), in consultation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and an advisory committee convened by the SPI, to identify best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy. However, the SPI heads the CDE and therefore it is unclear whether the author intends for the CDE to consult with a separate entity.

Author amendment: The author would like to amend the bill to clarify the process for identifying best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) on page 3 as follows:

“(b)(1) On or before December 1, 2018, the department, Superintendent, in consultation with the Superintendent, executive director of the state board, shall identify best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy and shall report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature on strategies to implement the best practices and recommendations statewide.”

Staff recommends that the bill be amended to reflect the author’s proposed amendment.

1. Makeup of the advisory committee. This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene and consult with an advisory committee when developing best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy, and specifies the membership of the advisory committee.

Author amendment: The author would like to revise the membership of the advisory committee specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) on page 4 as follows:

“(4) Other stakeholders, including pupils, certificated teacher librarians, parent organizations, educators, diverse current classroom teachers, and administrators.

Author amendment: The author would also like to amend the bill to specify that “The advisory committee shall be comprised of a majority of certificated teacher librarians and current certificated classroom teachers with experience teaching media literacy.”

Staff recommends that the bill be amended to reflect the author’s proposed amendments.

4) Model policies and procedures. This bill specifies that recommendations of the advisory committee may include, among other things, revisions to the model policies and procedures on digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy developed by the School Superintendents Association and best practices, resources, and models of instruction of digital citizenship that are compliant with certain federal programs and laws. Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, the bill requires a school district to annually review its policy and procedures on digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy, and to take specified actions in response. However, it does not appear that there is an existing requirement on school districts to have a policy and procedures on digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy.

Author amendments: The author would like to amend subdivisions (d) and (e) the bill on page 4 as follows:

“(2) Revisions to the model Model policies and procedures on digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy developed by the School Superintendents Association.”

“(5) Best practices, resources, and models for instruction of digital citizenship that are compliant with the federal Universal Service E-rate program administered by the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company and federal mandates established in the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act (Public Law 106-554).”

(e) Beginning in the 2019–20 school year, a school district shall annually review its policy and procedures on digital citizenship, Internet safety, and medial literacy. In reviewing and amending the policy and procedures, a school district shall do all of the following:

(1) Involve a representation of parents or guardians, teachers, teacher librarians, other school employees, school administrators, pupils, and community representatives with experience or expertise in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy issues.

(2) Consider customizing the model policy and procedures on electronic resources and Internet safety.

(3) Consider existing school district resources.

(4) Consider best practices, resources, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, Internet safety, and media literacy, Including methods to involve parents.

Staff recommends that the bill be amended to reflect the author’s proposed amendments.

5) Related and previous legislation.

Related legislation:

SB 135 (Dodd, 2017) would require the Instructional Quality Commission to develop, and the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt, modify, or revise, a model curriculum in media literacy for social sciences for grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

Previous legislation:

ACR 203 (Chau, Ch. 194, Stats. 2016) recognizes the week of October 16, 2016, to October 22, 2016, inclusive, as Digital Citizenship Week.

SB 231 (Correa, 2013) would have established the California Bullying Prevention Clearinghouse (CBPC) to address issues relating to bullying and peer abuse. The bill would have required the CBPC to be administered by the California Department of Education (CDE), required the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to establish an advisory council consisting of experts in the areas of bullying and abuse prevention who are appointed by the SPI, and required the advisory council to provide technical assistance to CDE, school districts, and other appropriate entities on best practices, strategies, and other interventions that may assist in reducing the incidence of bullying/peer abuse. SB 231 was held in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.

SUPPORT

American Academy of Pediatrics

California State PTA

Common Sense Kids Action

OPPOSITION

None Received.

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