Colorado § 22-2-145 - Media literacy - committee - report - strategic plan - resource bank - definition - rules.

§ 22-2-145. Media literacy - committee - report - strategic plan - resource bank - definition - rules.

(1) For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "media literacy" means the:

(a) Ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act through the various forms of media;

(b) Ability to analyze the reliability of information, claims, and sources presented in the various forms of media; and

(c) Practice of digital citizenship, including norms of appropriate and responsible behavior and discourse when engaging with media, and the prevention of cyberbullying.

(2) (a) There is created in the department of education the media literacy advisory committee, referred to in this section as the "committee". The committee shall create a report containing recommendations and best practices for implementing media literacy into elementary and secondary education. The report must include, but is not limited to:

(I) Recommended revisions to state education standards for reading, writing, and civics, pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (2)(a), to implement media literacy in elementary and secondary education;

(II) Recommended materials and resources for teachers to adopt for media literacy instruction;

(III) Recommended legislation or rules to implement media literacy in elementary and secondary education;

(IV) Best practices for school districts to develop policies and procedures regarding media literacy;

(V) Strategies to support school districts implementing the best practices and recommendations developed by the committee; and

(VI) Recommended opportunities to recognize students and teachers who demonstrate excellence in media literacy.

(b) The commissioner of education shall appoint the following members to serve on the committee no later than July 15, 2019:

(I) One member who is an academic expert in media literacy;

(II) One member who is a teacher in a rural school district or a small rural school district, as defined in section 22-7-1211 (4), and holds an initial or professional teacher's license pursuant to article 60.5 of this title 22;

(III) One member who is a teacher in a school district that is not a rural school district or a small rural school district, as defined in section 22-7-1211 (4), and holds an initial or professional teacher's license pursuant to article 60.5 of this title 22;

(IV) One member who is a librarian and is a member of a professional association of librarians;

(V) One member who is a school administrator in a rural school district or a small rural school district, as defined in section 22-7-1211 (4), and is a member of a professional association of school administrators;

(VI) One member who is a school administrator in a school district that is not a rural school district or a small rural school district, as defined in section 22-7-1211 (4), and is a member of a professional association of school administrators;

(VII) One member who is a parent or legal guardian of a student who attends a public school and is a member of a parent organization;

(VIII) One member who is a student in a rural school district or a small rural school district, as defined in section 22-7-1211 (4);

(IX) One member who is a student in a school district that is not a rural school district or a small rural school district, as defined in section 22-7-1211 (4);

(X) One member who represents a nonprofit organization specializing in media literacy;

(XI) One member who represents a nonprofit organization specializing in journalism;

(XII) One member who is a professional print journalist and is a member of a professional association of journalists; and

(XIII) One member who is a professional broadcast journalist and is a member of a professional association of broadcasters.

(3) (a) On or before July 15, 2019, the commissioner of education shall hire a consultant to perform the research and coordination of the committee required to draft the report.

(b) The consultant shall consult with committee members to elicit recommendations for the report, as described in subsection (2)(a) of this section. The consultant is not required to conduct consultations in person and may conduct consultations through telephone, email, or video conference.

(c) to (e) Repealed.

(4) and (5) Repealed.

(6) (a) The department shall create and maintain an online resource bank of materials and resources pertaining to media literacy. At a minimum, the resource bank must include the materials and resources recommended in the committee's report created pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. The department shall create the online resource bank on or before the date when revisions are adopted to include knowledge and skills relating to media literacy within the reading, writing, or civics standards, whichever revisions occur first, pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (2.6).

(b) The department shall promulgate rules, if necessary, to implement a procedure through which a person may provide comment on a material or resource within the resource bank, including a comment recommending the removal or inclusion of a material or resource within the resource bank.

(c) Upon the request of a school district, district charter school, institute charter school, or board of cooperative services, the department shall provide, subject to available resources, technical assistance to a school district, district charter school, institute charter school, or board of cooperative services, with implementing policies and procedures, best practices, and recommendations related to media literacy.

(7) A school district, district charter school, institute charter school, or board of cooperative services is not required to adopt or implement any material or resource from the resource bank into its curriculum.

Source: L. 2019: Entire section added, (HB 19-1110), ch. 412, p. 3624, § 1, effective June 3. L. 2020: (2)(b)(VI) and (2)(b)(IX) amended, (HB 20-1402), ch. 216, p. 1049, § 37, effective June 30. L. 2021: (5) repealed and (6) and (7) added, (HB 21-1103), ch. 187, p. 1001, § 2, effective May 27. L. 2026: (3)(c), (3)(d), (3)(e), and (4) repealed, (HB 26-1295), ch. 121, p. 517, § 6, effective August 12.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 21-1103, see section 1 of chapter 187, Session Laws of Colorado 2021.