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Education: May 30, 2013

Calendars

Active List: Jun 5, 2013 , Floor Calendar: Jun 3, 2013 , Floor Calendar: Jun 4, 2013 , Floor Calendar: Jun 5, 2013

Votes

Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2855

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to digital literacy instruction

PURPOSE:  The legislation would clarify current law to allow and encourage public schools to teach digital literacy.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 814 of the Education Law would be amended to clarify that public schools may offer a digital literacy course that covers topics like internet safety and other relevant issues to the use of technology and the internet.

JUSTIFICATION:  Digital Literacy is a term that has gained widespread use at both the state and federal level in defining the skill levels necessary to use technology and the internet in the 21st Century. Digital Literacy is a more comprehensive term that encompasses both internet safety and other internet -related skills which are being developed and taught by school librarians, such as the ability to properly access, evaluate, create and share online information in an appropriate, effective and safe manner.

The legislation only amends terminology used in existing law that currently permits public schools to offer an optional course on internet safety to instead offer an optional course on digital literacy that includes topics like internet safety and other relevant issues pertaining to the use of technology and the internet.

The bill provides greater flexibility to school districts to develop a course that remains current and relevant with changes in both the use of the internet and the technology needed to access the internet.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  S.6479 of 2012

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:  None to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  The first day of September after it becomes law.

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________

2855

2013-2014 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

January 24, 2013
___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  FARLEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Education

AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  digital  literacy
  instruction

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 814 of the education law, as added by  chapter  526
of  the  laws of 2006, subdivision 3 as added by chapter 545 of the laws
of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
  S 814. Courses of study in DIGITAL LITERACY, TO INCLUDE internet safe-
ty. 1. Any school district in the state may provide, to pupils in grades
kindergarten through twelve, instruction designed to promote the  proper
and  safe use of the internet AND PREPARE STUDENTS TO USE TECHNOLOGY AND
THE INTERNET TO ACCESS, EVALUATE, CREATE AND  SHARE  INFORMATION  IN  AN
APPROPRIATE, EFFECTIVE AND SAFE MANNER.
  2.  The  commissioner  shall provide technical assistance to assist in
the development of curricula for such courses of study  which  shall  be
age  appropriate  and  developed according to the needs and abilities of
pupils at successive grade levels in order to provide awareness, skills,
information and support to aid in the safe usage of the internet AND  TO
DEVELOP DIGITALLY LITERATE STUDENTS.
  3.  The commissioner shall develop age-appropriate resources and tech-
nical assistance for schools to provide  to  students  in  grades  three
through  twelve and their parents or legal guardians concerning the safe
and responsible use of the internet. The resources  shall  include,  but
not be limited to, information regarding how child predators may use the
internet  to lure and exploit children, protecting personal information,
internet scams and cyber-bullying.
  S 2. This act shall  take  effect  on  the  first  of  September  next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06734-01-3