51206.5.
(a) (1) For purposes of this section, “digital citizenship” and “media literacy” are broad terms that encompass consumption and production of media and digital products and are defined as follows:(A) “Digital citizenship” means a diverse set of skills related to current technology and social media, including the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior. Major areas include safety concerns such as cyberbullying prevention, protecting private information online, understanding digital footprints, civil online discourse, and online safety.
(B) “Media literacy” means the
ability to access, analyze, evaluate, develop, produce, and interpret media and encompasses the foundational skills that lead to digital citizenship. Media literacy includes digital literacy, consisting of the skills and perspectives needed to read and write using a range of digital devices, typically in a networked environment.
(2) The Legislature finds and declares that digital citizenship and media literacy education provide digital technology skills essential for success in the 21st century.
(b) (1) On or before January 1, 2026, the Superintendent, in consultation with the state board, shall identify best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety,
citizenship 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.
(2) The best practices and recommendations shall be developed in consultation with the advisory committee specified in subdivision (c).
(3) The best practices and recommendations shall include instruction that provides guidance about thoughtful, safe, and strategic uses of online and other media resources and education on how to apply critical thinking skills when consuming and producing media in any form.
(4) The requirement for submitting a report imposed pursuant to this subdivision is
inoperative on January 1, 2030, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
(c) The Superintendent shall convene and consult with an advisory committee when developing best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, citizenship and media literacy. A majority of the membership of the advisory committee shall be composed of certificated teacher librarians and current certificated classroom teachers with experience teaching media literacy and the advisory committee shall include representatives from all of the following:
(1) A statewide association
representing county superintendents of schools.
(2) A statewide association representing school district governing boards.
(3) Experts in digital citizenship, digital literacy, internet safety, and media literacy.
(4) Other stakeholders, including pupils, certificated teacher librarians, parent organizations, diverse current classroom teachers, and school administrators.
(d) The recommendations of the advisory committee may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Revisions to the state content standards
standards, curriculum frameworks, adopted instructional materials, and the state educational technology plan.
(2) Existing model policies and procedures on digital citizenship, internet safety, citizenship and media literacy.
(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,
citizenship and media literacy.
(5) Best practices, resources, and models for instruction that are compliant with the federal Universal Service E-rate program and
federal mandates established in the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act (Public Law 106-554).
(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 school administrators.
(e) The members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation, including compensation for travel and per diem expenses. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the use of private funds for the compensation, travel expenses, or per diem of members of the advisory committee.
(f) Meetings of the advisory committee shall be conducted pursuant
to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).