Study Media Literacy in Schools

Section 1. For purposes of this act, "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, act and create 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. "Digital citizenship" shall mean a diverse set of skills related to current technology and social media, including the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior and focuses on empowering learners to use online resources, applications and spaces to improve communities and curate a positive and effective digital footprint.

§ 2. The commissioner of education, in cooperation with experts in media literacy, the board of regents, the state university board of trustees, and stakeholders including educators and parents, shall appoint a media literacy advisory group ("group") to conduct a survey on the current status of library media instruction. The commissioner of education shall serve as chair of the group. Such group shall consist of nine members other than the commissioner. Three members of the group shall be staff from school library systems, three members of the group shall be staff from school libraries, and three members of the group shall be staff from higher education institutions that offer library and information studies programs. Each of the aforementioned members shall

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD00627-01-5

possess a New York state public librarian certification and a masters degree in library sciences, or the equivalent experience.

§ 3. The group shall survey each school district in the state to determine the media literacy practices of and the current media literacy resources available to each district. The survey shall include a checklist of items for school districts to consider when updating policies and procedures. The survey shall also inquire of teacher-librarians, principals, and technology directors to understand how they are currently integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education in their curriculum.

§ 4. The group shall make a report of its findings, including any recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and appropriate, best practices for 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. These recommendations and best practices may include, but are not limited to:

(a) revisions to state education standards and the state instructional technology plan;

(b) revisions to policies and procedures on media literacy, including digital citizenship and internet safety;

(c) 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 and strategies that will support school districts in local implementation of best practices, and recommendations developed by the group, including strategies for delivering professional development to educators and administrators. Such processes and strategies shall include, but shall not be limited to, the development of model media literacy standards;

(d) best practices, resources, and models for instruction in media literacy; and

(e) best practices, resources, and models for instruction of digital citizenship, including media literacy, 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.

§ 5. The department shall publish best practices and resources regarding proper and effective research, social media etiquette, financial literacy, data use, and other aspects of digital citizenship.

§ 6. The report required by section four of this act shall be delivered to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than one year after the effective date of this act. Such report shall be published on the department's website.

§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately.