A 120: Directs the commissioner of education to appoint a media literacy advisory group to study the teaching of media literacy; requires such group to survey all school districts on the media literacy practices of and the current media literacy resources available to each district, to inquire how districts are currently integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education in their curriculum.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 120 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education AN ACT to direct the commissioner of education to appoint a media liter- acy advisory group to study the teaching of media literacy The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. For purposes of this act, "media literacy" shall be consid- 2 ered a broad term that encompasses consumption and production of media 3 and digital products and is defined as the ability to access, analyze, 4 evaluate, act and create with all forms of communication, and encom- 5 passes the foundational skills of digital citizenship and internet safe- 6 ty including the norms of appropriate, responsible, healthy behavior, 7 and cyberbullying prevention. "Digital citizenship" shall mean a diverse 8 set of skills related to current technology and social media, including 9 the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior and focuses 10 on empowering learners to use online resources, applications and spaces 11 to improve communities and curate a positive and effective digital foot- 12 print. 13 § 2. The commissioner of education, in cooperation with experts in 14 media literacy, the board of regents, the state university board of 15 trustees, and stakeholders including educators and parents, shall 16 appoint a media literacy advisory group ("group") to conduct a survey on 17 the current status of library media instruction. The commissioner of 18 education shall serve as chair of the group. Such group shall consist 19 of nine members other than the commissioner. Three members of the group 20 shall be staff from school library systems, three members of the group 21 shall be staff from school libraries, and three members of the group 22 shall be staff from higher education institutions that offer library and 23 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 
 A. 120 2 1 possess a New York state public librarian certification and a masters 2 degree in library sciences, or the equivalent experience. 3 § 3. The group shall survey each school district in the state to 4 determine the media literacy practices of and the current media literacy 5 resources available to each district. The survey shall include a check- 6 list of items for school districts to consider when updating policies 7 and procedures. The survey shall also inquire of teacher-librarians, 8 principals, and technology directors to understand how they are current- 9 ly integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education in their 10 curriculum. 11 § 4. The group shall make a report of its findings, including any 12 recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and 13 appropriate, best practices for instruction that provides guidance about 14 thoughtful, safe, and strategic uses of online and other media resources 15 and education on how to apply critical thinking skills when consuming 16 and producing media in any form. These recommendations and best prac- 17 tices may include, but are not limited to: 18 (a) revisions to state education standards and the state instructional 19 technology plan; 20 (b) revisions to policies and procedures on media literacy, including 21 digital citizenship and internet safety; 22 (c) school district processes necessary to develop customized school 23 district policies and procedures on electronic resources and internet 24 safety that can be used within a school district technology plan and 25 strategies that will support school districts in local implementation of 26 best practices, and recommendations developed by the group, including 27 strategies for delivering professional development to educators and 28 administrators. Such processes and strategies shall include, but shall 29 not be limited to, the development of model media literacy standards; 30 (d) best practices, resources, and models for instruction in media 31 literacy; and 32 (e) best practices, resources, and models for instruction of digital 33 citizenship, including media literacy, that are compliant with the 34 federal universal service e-rate program administered by the schools and 35 libraries division of the universal service administrative company and 36 federal mandates established in the federal children's internet 37 protection act. 38 § 5. The department shall publish best practices and resources regard- 39 ing proper and effective research, social media etiquette, financial 40 literacy, data use, and other aspects of digital citizenship. 41 § 6. The report required by section four of this act shall be deliv- 42 ered to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the 43 speaker of the assembly no later than one year after the effective date 44 of this act. Such report shall be published on the department's website. 45 § 7. This act shall take effect immediately.