bill requiring digital citizenship and media literacy in schools

The text as introduced · 697 words

89R15560 RAL-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 2787

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to digital citizenship and media literacy instruction in

public schools and a public school policy regarding Internet

safety.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 28.00215 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.00215. DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AND MEDIA LITERACY. (a)

In this section:

(1) "Cyberbullying" has the meaning assigned by

Section 37.0832.

(2) "Curriculum materials" includes the curriculum,

teacher training materials, and any other materials used in

providing instruction.

(3) "Digital citizenship" means the standards of

appropriate, responsible, and healthy online behavior, including

the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act on all

forms of digital communication.

(b) The State Board of Education by rule shall require each

school district to incorporate instruction in digital citizenship

into the district's curriculum, including information regarding

the potential criminal consequences of cyberbullying, and require

students enrolled in grades 6 through 12 to complete instruction in

media literacy as part of the district's foundation curriculum

under Section 28.002(a)(1).

(c) The State Board of Education shall adopt essential

knowledge and skills for the instruction in digital citizenship

that include instruction regarding the social, emotional, and

physical effects of social media, including:

(1) the negative effects of social media on mental

health, including addiction;

(2) the distribution of misinformation online;

(3) the ways in which social media can manipulate

behavior;

(4) the permanency of material shared online;

(5) how to maintain online personal security;

(6) how to identify and report suspicious online

behavior, including cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and human

trafficking;

(7) how to identify credible sources of information,

including by analyzing content created or modified by generative

artificial intelligence technology; and

(8) how to engage in respectful discourse with people

who have differing opinions.

(d) Before each school year, a school district shall:

(1) make all curriculum materials used in the

district's digital citizenship and media literacy instruction

available by posting the curriculum materials on the district's

Internet website, if the district has an Internet website; and

(2) provide notice to a parent of each student

enrolled in the district of the availability of the curriculum

materials on the district's Internet website, if the district has

an Internet website.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 38.0233 to read as follows:

Sec. 38.0233. INTERNET SAFETY POLICY. (a) The board of

trustees of a school district or the governing body of an

open-enrollment charter school shall adopt an Internet safety

policy to protect a student accessing the Internet:

(1) on a district or school Internet network; or

(2) on a digital device provided to the student by the

district or school.

(b) A policy adopted under this section must:

(1) limit student Internet access to age-appropriate

materials;

(2) include measures to protect a student using

e-mail, chat rooms, or other direct electronic communication;

(3) prohibit student access to information about

illegal activities, including hacking;

(4) prohibit student access to websites, web

applications, or software that collects, disseminates, or uses the

student's personal information, including social media services,

other than as directed by a teacher for instructional purposes; and

(5) provide an exception for a digital device, a web

application, or software used as a reasonable accommodation or

assistive technology in accordance with a student's individualized

education program or plan created under Section 504, Rehabilitation

Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794).

(c) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this

section, including rules regarding additional requirements for a

policy adopted under this section.

SECTION 3. Section 28.002(z), Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 4. (a) Section 28.00215, Education Code, as added

by this Act, applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.

(b) Section 38.0233, Education Code, as added by this Act,

applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.