PRINTER'S NO. 699
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
661
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY BRIGGS, FREEMAN, BULLOCK, KINSEY, READSHAW AND
D. COSTA, FEBRUARY 28, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 28, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
providing for media literacy education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1555. Media Literacy Education.--(a) The Department
of Education, in consultation with the State Board of Education,
shall:
(1) Develop, within six (6) months of the effective date of
this section, a model, age-appropriate curriculum for students
in kindergarten through grade twelve (12) for media literacy
instruction. Beginning with the school year that commences after
the effective date of this section, a school district shall
incorporate into the school curriculum a component regarding
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media literacy.
(2) The curriculum may include, but need not be limited to:
developing critical thinking skills; understanding how media
messages shape culture and society; identifying target marketing
strategies; naming techniques of persuasion used; recognizing
bias and misinformation; discovering parts of a story that are
not being told; and evaluating media messages based on personal
experiences, skills, beliefs and values.
(3) The State Board of Education shall make this curriculum
available on its publicly accessible Internet website.
(4) The Department of Education shall make available to
school districts on the Department of Education's Internet
website a list of resources and materials on media literacy and
shall ensure that approved media literacy training opportunities
are made available for use in professional development programs
for teachers.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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