AB 787: Pupil instruction: digital citizenship and media literacy: survey.

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. Existing law requires the State Department of Education, on or before July 1, 2019, to make available to school districts on its internet website a list of resources and instructional materials on media literacy, including media literacy professional development programs for teachers.

This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2025, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with the state board, to survey teacher librarians, principals, and technology directors to understand how they are currently integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education into their curriculum, as provided. The bill would require the superintendent to convene and consult with an advisory committee consisting of specified representatives to develop best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, citizenship and media literacy. The bill would also require the superintendent to share the results of the survey with the advisory committee. The bill would require, on or before January 1, 2026, the superintendent, in consultation with the State Board of Education, to submit a report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature on strategies to implement those best practices and recommendations statewide.