HB 4625 — SCH CD-DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS

Summary

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that all school districts shall, with guidance and standards provided by the State Board of Education and a group of educators convened by the State Board of Education, ensure that students receive developmentally appropriate opportunities to gain digital literacy skills beginning in elementary school. Provides that digital literacy instruction shall include developmentally appropriate instruction in digital citizenship skills, media literacy, and AI literacy. Provides that digital literacy skills may, based on the recommendation of the State Board of Education, incorporate existing computer literacy standards. Sets forth what the digital citizenship skills instruction, media literacy instruction, and AI literacy instruction shall include. Effective July 1, 2024.

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

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This bill adds a new section to the School Code requiring all school districts to provide digital literacy instruction for elementary students.

• 105 ILCS 5/27-20.07

  Sec. 27-20.07. Digital literacy skills. (a) In this Section: "AI" means artificial intelligence. "Cybersecurity" means the ability to stay safe while using technology to engage with society. "Digital citizenship" means the ability to act responsibly while using technology, such as computers, the Internet, or digital devices, in order to engage with society. "Generative AI" means an AI model that can take in a variety of inputs, typically expressive content such as text or an image, and can produce expressive content as its output. "Media literacy" means the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and communicate using a variety of objective forms, including, but not limited to, print, visual, audio, interactive, and digital text forms. (b) All school districts shall, with guidance and standards provided by the State Board of Education and a group of educators convened by the State Board of Education, ensure that students receive developmentally appropriate opportunities to gain digital literacy skills beginning in elementary school. Digital literacy instruction shall include developmentally appropriate instruction in digital citizenship skills, media literacy, and AI literacy as provided in this Section. (c) Digital literacy skills may, based on the recommendation of the State Board of Education, incorporate existing computer literacy standards. (d) At a minimum, digital citizenship skills instruction shall include all of the following: (1) The meaning and impact of a student's digital footprint while inside and outside of the classroom. (2) Cybersecurity while inside and outside of the classroom. (e) At a minimum, media literacy instruction shall include all media literacy requirements under Section 27-20.08 of this Code. (f) At a minimum, AI literacy instruction shall include all of the following: (1) What constitutes generative AI. (2) Ethics and responsibilities associated with the use of generative AI. (3) Instruction on age-appropriate use of generative AI. (4) Instruction on how AI impacts the world.

  This establishes a new requirement for school districts to provide digital literacy instruction to students, including topics like digital citizenship, media literacy, and AI literacy.

Action History

1. April 05, 2024

   Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

2. February 14, 2024

   Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee

3. January 31, 2024

   Referred to Rules Committee

4. January 31, 2024

   First Reading

5. January 30, 2024

   Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

Sponsors

• Janet Yang Rohr · Primary

Subjects