Legislation to spot "fake news" passed the Senate floor Tuesday and will head to the governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 947 is meant to give students the ability and tools to assess media sources critically, act ethically, responsibly and safely online.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), passed on a 27-10 vote.
A proposed advisory committee is part of the bill, comprised of educators administrators, researchers and parents under the guidance of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The advisory committee is meant to develop the best practices, resources and methods for "instruction of digital citizenship and media literacy."
"While technology holds great promise for enhancing how children learn, young people need support and training on how to navigate their digital world, particularly when it comes to cyberbullying, privacy, digital footprints, and fake news," Senator Jackson said. "SB 947 will ensure that digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy become part of the state’s basic educational goals and learning requirements."
"With an educator community of more than 300,000 teachers, Common Sense supports kids and families as they navigate the digital age," said Elizabeth Galicia, Vice President of Common Sense Kids Action. "We are in full support of Senator Jackson’s SB 947, which will ultimately empower students to make ethical choices when it comes to technology use. By identifying best practices for the teaching of digital citizenship in K-12 schools, SB 947 is an important first step in establishing a statewide curriculum for kids in today’s connected world."
