S-0725.2

SENATE BILL 5626

BySenators Liias, Warnick, Hunt, Nobles, Pedersen, and C. Wilson

AN ACT Relating to expanding and enhancing media literacy and digital citizenship in K-12 education; adding new sections to chapter 28A.300 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall establish a program for the purpose of expanding the capability of school districts to integrate media literacy and digital citizenship into given subject areas through teacher support. As part of this program, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall assemble a cadre of subject-area teachers who will work to help ensure media literacy is effectively integrated into their respective subject area under any revised state learning standards created by the office of the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.655.070.

(2) The program created under this section must operate in a two-year cycle, under the following schedule:

(a) In year one, the purpose of the program will be to support a cadre of teachers in analyzing how the full range of media literacy skills fall within current state learning standards, including the identification of gaps in learning standards where media literacy skills are not addressed.

(b) In year two, the purpose of the program will be to support a cadre of teachers in becoming trainers on media literacy within their given subject area. These teachers shall develop and deliver professional development focused on the ways in which any revised state learning standards will affect teaching and learning within their given subject areas. The professional development must include instruction to other teachers and integrate feedback and suggestions in developing future training sessions.

(3) Teachers in the program created under this section will receive a stipend for their participation that may vary based on the role of the teacher in either developing and delivering professional development or participating in training sessions.

(4) Funds equivalent to the stipends issued under subsection (3) of this section may also be disbursed to school districts for the purpose of substitute teachers or other school district costs associated with a teacher's absence due to participation in the program.

(5) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall establish and publish criteria for participation in this program including, but not limited to, teacher qualifications, participation guidelines, and reimbursement procedures.

(6) The office of the superintendent of public instruction may adopt rules for the effective implementation of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall establish a grant program for the purpose of supporting school districts in integrating media literacy into the K-12 educational system. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall establish and publish criteria for the grant program, and may accept gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources for the grant program.

(2) Grants awarded under this section may be awarded to school districts or educational service districts for the following purposes:

(a) Developing strategies to utilize existing funding in integrating media literacy into various subject areas;

(b) Organizing learning sessions with experts in the field of media literacy and digital citizenship;

(c) Professional development on issues of media literacy including, but not limited to, on any revised state learning standards created by the office of the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.655.070 that include media literacy. The professional development may include training for district leaders, administrative staff, instructional staff, or any combination thereof;

(d) Ongoing support to school districts in considering actions to ensure successful implementation of any revised state learning standards under RCW 28A.655.070 that include the areas of either media literacy, digital citizenship, or both; and

(e) Acquiring resources on media literacy instruction and integration.

(3) A school district or educational service district that receives a grant under this section is not prohibited from receiving a grant in subsequent grant cycles.

(4) The establishment of the grant program under this section is subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose.

(5) This section expires July 31, 2033.

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