BILL NUMBER: S4978
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "media
literacy act"
 
PURPOSE OF BILL:
To ensure that the education industry actively works to adopt policies
for grade school students to receive necessary training on media litera-
cy to adapt to changes and various mediums in media, in addition to
understanding nuances in other forms of media in the modern and dynamic
media landscape
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends subdivision 2 of section 3006-a of the education law,
as added by section 2 subpart C of part EE of chapter 56 of the laws of
2015 to establish that educators complete fifteen hours of professional
development in media literacy, as established by the education commis-
sioner. Such training will be culturally responsive, geared towards
integrating training into curricula, and will develop and establish
tools for educators on the training website. A certificate of completion
of such training and continuing teacher and leader education require-
ments also comprise this section will encompass the overall training for
educators to better improve students overall development in the space in
addition to everyday curriculum.
Section two adds a new section 286 to the education law to outline a
school library media specialist and additionally states their employment
obligation relative to school size and time needed to instruct students
media literacy.
Section three amends subdivision 2 of section 711 of the education law
to ensure school districts have the necessary supplies sufficient to
instruct on media literacy.
Section four defines "digital citizenship" as a diverse set of skills
related to current technology and social media, including the norms of
appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior; and "media literacy" as
the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and use media and information
and encompasses the foundational skills that lead to digital citizen-
ship.
Section five states the commissioner of education in cooperation with
the board of regents shall appoint a media literacy advisory committee
to conduct a study on teaching media literacy in schools.
Section six states the committee shall create a survey and submit to
each school administrator in the state to provide feedback from teachers
and students to the state board of education to identify medica literacy
best practices to inform future instruction. The survey shall include a
checklist of items for school districts to consider for policies and
procedures in addition to educators to assess how they are currently
integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education in curric-
ulum.
Section seven outlines that the committee shall make public 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 which identifies fake print and video media in any
form. Recommendations and best practices include, (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; (d) best practices, resources, and
models for instruction in media literacy; (e) best practices, resources
and models for instruction of digital citizenship and federal mandates
established in the federal children's internet protection act; and (f)
strategies that will support school districts in local implementation of
the best practices and recommendations developed by the committee,
including strategies for delivering professional development to educa-
tors and administrators.
Section eight outlines that the report required by section seven of this
act shall be delivered to the governor, temporary president of the
senate, and the assembly speaker no later than one year after the effec-
tive date of this act.
Section nine amends section 756 of the education law to require that an
annual audit of media literacy polices and procedures in conjunction
with instructors and their peers.
Section ten is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In conjunction with the Governor's recent announcement of a "media
literacy toolkit" this bill aims to help the state board of education,
education certificate programs, school districts, and educators work
towards the goal of incorporating media literacy in our school aged
children's modern curriculum.
Media literacy helps learners learn to think critically, become a smart
consumer of products and information, recognize point of view, create
media responsibly, identify the role of media in our culture, and under-
stand the author's goal. It is essential in a democracy for students of
all backgrounds to age into adults that maintain mastery in all media
forms.
Not only is media literacy is a key strategy to support our children,
their families, and our society that is inundated with misinformation
and disinformation on social media networks and digital platforms, media
literacy will also give students tools to excel in the modern economy.
This is both a measure to support democracy and allow for enduring
economic freedom.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S8217 Comrie/ A8891 Rosenthal L
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become law.

Statutes affected:
S4978: 3006-a education law, 3006-a(2) education law, 711 education law, 711(2) education law