Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

ESSB 5449

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

Requires the development of a model policy and procedures on electronic resources and internet safety to better support digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety in schools.
Requires a survey of teacher-librarians, principals, and technology directors to understand how they are currently integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education in their curriculum.
Requires the creation of a web-based location with links to recommended successful practices and resources to support digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety.

Background:

Digital Citizenship Definition. State statute defines the term digital citizenship as including the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior related to current technology use, including digital and media literacy, ethics, etiquette, and security. The term also includes the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, develop, produce, and interpret media, as well as internet safety and cyberbullying prevention and response.

Recommendations from Advisory Committee. In 2016, the Legislature directed the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to convene and consult an advisory committee to develop best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy, and report to the Legislature by December 1, 2016. The OSPI made the following recommendations:

convene a working group to update the state kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12) learning standards for educational technology that align with the advisory group's definitions of digital citizenship and media literacy, national standards, and learning standards in all subjects;
consider possible revisions to district policies to better support digital citizenship, media literacy, or internet safety in schools;
create a web-based location to recommended successful practices and resources and work with the K-12 community and other stakeholders to identify and develop additional open educational resources to support digital citizenship, media literacy and Internet safety in schools;
provide support for professional development for teachers, focused on integrating digital citizenship and media literacy in all core standards, starting with English language arts and social studies; and
examine improvements in districts' library information and technology programs as defined in state law to determine ways in which teacher-librarians can lead, teach and support digital citizenship and media literacy across all grades and content areas.

District Policy and Procedures. Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, school districts are required to review their policy and procedures on electronic resources and internet safety annually. In reviewing and amending the policy and procedures, school districts must:

involve a representation of students, parents or guardians, teachers, teacher-librarians, other school employees, administrators, and community representatives with experience or expertise in digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety issues;
consider customizing the model policy and procedures on electronic resources and internet safety developed by the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA);
consider existing school district resources; and
consider best practices, resources, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy, including methods to involve parents.

Summary of Bill:

Model Policy and Procedures. By December 1, 2017, the WSSDA must review and revise its model policy and procedures on electronic resources and internet safety to better support digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety in schools. The model policy and procedures must contain provisions requiring that media literacy resources consist of a balance of sources and perspectives. In addition, the WSSDA must develop a checklist of items for school districts to consider when updating their policy and procedures.

Survey. By December 1, 2018, the OSPI must survey teacher-librarians, principals, and technology directors to understand how they are currently integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education in their curriculum. The purpose of the survey is to determine ways in which teacher-librarians, principals, and technology directors can lead, teach, and support digital citizenship and media literacy across all grades and content areas.

Successful Practices and Resources. The OSPI must create a web-based location with links to recommended successful practices and resources to support digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety for use in the 2017-18 school year. The web-based location must incorporate the information gathered by the digital citizenship and media literacy survey. The OSPI must continue to identify and develop additional open educational resources to support digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety in schools for the web-based location. The media literacy resources must consist of a balance of sources and perspectives.

Definition. The definition of digital citizenship is moved to the definition section of the Education Technology Chapter of the education code.