Category: Bill Update
2017 Law Promotes Media Literacy for students in WA Schools
On Thursday, April 20, our bill became a law! Governor Jay Inslee signed it with AME representatives Barbara Johnson, Nick Pernisco and Marilyn Cohen present. The law will go into effect on July 23.
This bill, ESSB 5449, is a follow up to SSB 6273. That bill made us the first state in the country to pass media literacy legislation, making Washington the model state. Read more about our success passing SSB 6273 here.
Now media literacy legislation has moved still another step forward in Washington with the passage of a second bill ESSB 5449 in 2017.
In speaking with the group, Governor Inslee noted how this bill was addressing an important subject.
Multiple news articles have come out to coverage the passing of this bill:
- King 5: New law promotes digital citizenship for students
- U.S. News: New Law Promotes Media Literacy, Internet Safety in Schools
- KEPR TV: New law promotes media literacy, internet safety in school curriculum
View images from the bill signing below.
2017 Law Promotes Media Literacy for students in WA Schools
On Thursday, April 20, our bill became a law! Governor Jay Inslee signed it with AME representatives Barbara Johnson, Nick Pernisco and Marilyn Cohen present. The law will go into effect on July 23.
This bill, ESSB 5449, is a follow up to SSB 6273. That bill made us the first state in the country to pass media literacy legislation, making Washington the model state. Read more about our success passing SSB 6273 here.
Now media literacy legislation has moved still another step forward in Washington with the passage of a second bill ESSB 5449 in 2017.
In speaking with the group, Governor Inslee noted how this bill was addressing an important subject.
Multiple news articles have come out to coverage the passing of this bill:
- King 5: New law promotes digital citizenship for students
- U.S. News: New Law Promotes Media Literacy, Internet Safety in Schools
- KEPR TV: New law promotes media literacy, internet safety in school curriculum
View images from the bill signing below.
Capitol dome
Pictured: Barbara Johnson, Action for Media Education and Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW
Pictured left to right: Dennis Small, Educational Technology Director, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sharyn Merrigan, Teacher-Librarian, Olympia School District, Jessica Vavrus, Washington State School Directors’ Association and Carolyn Logue, Washington State Library Association.
Pictured left to right: Evan Smith, Legislative Assistant, Curt Kohlwes, Executive Legislative Assistant and Sen. Marko Liias 21st District-Lynnwood.
Pictured left to right: Jessica Vavrus, Washington State School Directors’ Association, Carolyn Logue, Washington State Library Association, Sharyn Merrigan, Teacher-Librarian, Olympia School District, Dennis Small, Educational Technology Director, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Nick Pernisco, Action for Media Education, Evan Smith, Legislative Assistant, Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW, Senator Marko Liias 21st District-Lynnwood and Curt Kohlwes, Executive Legislative Assistant.
ESSB 5449 Bill History
Marilyn Cohen shaking hands with Gov. Jay Inslee. Pictured left to right: Curt Kohlwes, Executive Legislative Assistant, Sen. Marko Liias 21st District-Lynnwood, Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW, Carolyn Logue, Washington State Library Association and Gov. Jay Inslee.
Pictured left to right: Gov. Jay Inslee, Dennis Small, Educational Technology Director, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW and Barbara Johnson, Action for Media Education.
New Media Literacy Grants Available Now
| Washington’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is accepting grant applications for its media literacy grant program now and the due date is May 28th! Grant applications must focus on one of the following: 1. Development or adaptation of at least one openly-licensed 2-4 week curriculum unit focused on media literacy or digital citizenship, or both, which can be integrated into social studies, English language arts, or health classes, and is aligned with Washington state standards in these content areas OR 2. Implementation of an existing openly-licensed 2-4 week curriculum unit focused on media literacy or digital citizenship, and use of this experience to develop extended or supplemental curricular materials (e.g., add supports for ELL or special education students, add optional supplemental lessons, etc.). Submissions may come from a public school, district office, ESD or a partnership between multiple educational partners. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization. Grant requests may not exceed $25,000. Washington’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will soon be accepting grant applications for its media literacy grant program. Currently, OSPI’s plan is to make an announcement about these new grants between early and mid-April with applications due in mid-May. Should these dates change, we’ll be sure to let you know. Grant applications must focus on one of the following: 1. Development or adaptation of at least one openly-licensed 2-4 week curriculum unit focused on media literacy or digital citizenship, or both, which can be integrated into social studies, English language arts, or health classes, and is aligned with Washington state standards in these content areas OR 2. Implementation of an existing openly-licensed 2-4 week curriculum unit focused on media literacy or digital citizenship, and use of this experience to develop extended or supplemental curricular materials (e.g., add supports for ELL or special education students, add optional supplemental lessons, etc.). Submissions may come from a public school, district office, ESD or a partnership between multiple educational partners. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization. Grant requests may not exceed $25,000. Twelve grant recipients received awards for 2019-2020. Applications for this second round of funding will focus on implementation during 2020-2021. Grant application details will be available from OSPI in April. For more information, please contact Dennis Small Dennis.Small@k12.wa.us Twelve grant recipients received awards for 2019-2020. Applications for this second round of funding will focus on implementation during 2020-2021. Grant application details will be available from OSPI in April. For more information, please contact Dennis Small Dennis.Small@k12.wa.us |
Grant Money: A Media Literacy First
The 2019 Washington State legislature has allocated $150,000 in state funds for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to establish a K-12 media literacy grant program in 2019–2020. Action for Media Literacy Education is pleased to announce this news as another media literacy first for Washington State and the nation.
These funds will be awarded in September through a competitive grant process. Six to ten school teams will receive grants to develop and share openly-licensed curriculum units focused on three subject areas: social studies, English language arts, or health classes. A unique feature of these units is that they will be designed using a media literacy lens to address content commonly covered in one of these three subject areas.
Examples of ideas for curriculum units designed from a media literacy lens:
- Exploring media influence on teen perspectives concerning a particular health issue (e.g. teen pregnancy prevention)
- Analyzing and evaluating media sources that describe an important historical event
- Examining issues of copyright, fair use, and intellectual property as they apply to materials produced for an English language arts class
Submissions may come from a public school, district office, ESD, or a partnership between multiple educational partners. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization. Grant requests may not exceed $25,000; most awards are anticipated to be in the $15,000 range.
Grant application details and information will be available from OSPI in late August, 2019. For more information, contact Dennis Small: dennis.small@k12.wa.us or (360) 725-6384.
Your Comments Needed: New Media Literacy Bill for WA Schools
Exciting news! WA State Senate Bill 5594 provides funding for media literacy curriculum and professional development for teachers.
YOUR COMMENTS ARE NEEDED NOW. Please share this link with as many people as possible across the state. It’s easy! Just type in your zip code and with a few words you can let our lawmakers know your position.
This bill, sponsored and introduced by Senator Marko Liias, creates a grant process for developing new curriculum units that embed media literacy into content area lessons. The new curriculum units will be available for classrooms across the state. The bill also provides for two Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship professional development conferences for educators.
The proposed bill is a follow up to ESSB 5449 from 2017, which supported media literacy and digital citizenship. That bill called for reviewing and revising of district policies and procedures to better support digital citizenship, media literacy and internet safety, and the creation of a repository of best practices and resources. It also mandated an Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) survey that examined how digital citizenship and media literacy were being integrated into Washington’s schools’ curriculum.
Action for Media Literacy (AME) board members Marilyn Cohen, Michael Danielson, and Barbara Johnson met with Senator Liias to propose this new bill, SB 5594. He responded immediately with interest and took action. Thank you to Senator Marko Liias and the bill’s co-sponsors: Senators Judy Warnick, Claire Wilson, Lisa Wellman, Patty Kuderer, Joe Nguyen, Rebecca Saldaña, and Hans Zeiger.
Spread the word, and comment today to support media literacy education!
Quick update on OSPI Survey conducted after passage of ESSB 5449
Following the passage of ESSB 5449, in May 2018, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) conducted a survey involving all 295 school districts across Washington to explore what’s currently taking place in terms of policies and procedures regarding media literacy education, digital citizenship and internet safety.
Results of this survey will be shared in December 2018.
OSPI has also been creating a web-based resource base. More information about this will be available later. Stay tuned.
Washington becomes first state to pass law protecting net neutrality
Washington state has a new law to protect net neutrality at a time when the feds are getting rid of it.
In a bipartisan effort, the state’s legislators passed House Bill 2282. which was signed into law Monday by Gov. Jay Inslee.
“Washington will be the first state in the nation to preserve the open internet,” Inslee said at the bill signing.
Take Action: Increase school library IT resources for students in WA
You can help increase school library IT resources for students in Washington State.
Two bills, one in the House (HB 2695) and one in the Senate (SB 6460), have been introduced that will increase accountability and help provide more resources for school library information technology programs across the state.
Please call your legislators. You can find them here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
- State senators — urge them to pass SB 6460
- State representatives — urge them to pass HB 2695
You can share these points:
- School library information technology programs–with certified teacher-librarians and the resources necessary to run them effectively–can increase student achievement on tests in all subject areas, and improve graduation rates.
- We owe it to all our students to provide greater access to the current technology and instruction they need to be ready for future jobs and for lifelong learning.
Bill would help California schools teach about ‘fake news,’ media literacy
Spurred by the rise of so-called “fake news” and its impact on elections, a Santa Barbara state senator has introduced a bill that would encourage California’s K-12 schools to teach students to be skeptical, informed news consumers.
Authored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), SB 203, known as the digital citizenship and media literacy bill, would require the state superintendent of public instruction to convene a committee of educators, librarians, parents, students and media experts to draw up guidelines on how best to recognize fake news.
Popularized in the 2016 presidential election, the term “fake news” refers to Internet hoaxes or intentionally fabricated stories presented as news and intended to sway public opinion. Cyber bullying, privacy, copyright infringement, digital footprints, sexting and general Internet safety would also be included in the guidelines.
Image courtesy of Ed Source.
Press Release: New Bill, ESSB 5449, Targets Internet Safety and Media Literacy Education in Washington Schools
Official Press Release
4616 25th Ave NE,
#310, Seattle, WA 98105
April 27, 2017
Contact:
Michael Danielson, President, Action for Media Education
Email: mdanielson@seaprep.org | Phone: (206) 683-7277
New bill targets internet safety and media literacy education in Washington schools
Olympia, WA – Governor Jay Inslee has signed into law a new bill requiring Washington schools to develop a model policy to better support internet safety, digital citizenship and media literacy education. The Governor called this piece of legislation “extremely timely. “ He added, “We’re really excited about this bill.” The bill introduced by Senator Marko Liias, 21st District, Lynnwood comes at an important time of heightened scrutiny of information coming from the media and from government sources.
House Bill 2200: A bill to create internet privacy protections
Washington State is trying to pass a bill that would create internet privacy protections.
The bill would create new internet privacy protections enforceable under the Washington Consumer Protection Act, including:
- Compelling transparency by making ISP privacy policies available to customers so they know what to expect.
- Protecting privacy by prohibiting ISPs from selling or using private information (such as a person’s browsing history) without consent.
- Requiring ISPs to report to customers when they have been hacked and personal data has been breached so customers can protect themselves.
Please consider supporting this bill. It is important that consumers should have the option to keep their personal browser history private!
Great accomplishment passing Digital Citizenship/Media Literacy Bill ESSB 5449
Dear Friends of Action for Media Education,
The 2017 Digital Citizenship/Media Literacy Bill ESSB 5449 has passed both the Senate and the House. It’s now on its way to the Governor’s desk where it will soon be signed! We want to thank you for all of your support in helping to make this possible.
Here is a link to the 2017 Digital Citizenship/Media Literacy Bill ESSB 5449.
Our state has truly become a model for others across the country. Right now media literacy groups in 20 states are trying to convince their legislative bodies to follow our lead.
Continue reading “Great accomplishment passing Digital Citizenship/Media Literacy Bill ESSB 5449”
Step 8 of 9, how a bill becomes a law
We thought some of you might be interested in seeing where our bill is in the legislative process. The information below is taken from the Washington State Legislature about how a bill becomes a law. Our bill is at step 8. Almost there!
- A bill may be introduced in either the Senate or House of Representatives by a member.
- It is referred to a committee for a hearing. The committee studies the bill and may hold public hearings on it. It can then pass, reject, or take no action on the bill.
- The committee report on the passed bill is read in open session of the House or Senate, and the bill is then referred to the Rules Committee.
- The Rules Committee can either place the bill on the second reading calendar for debate before the entire body, or take no action.
- At the second reading, a bill is subject to debate and amendment before being placed on the third reading calendar for final passage.
- After passing one house, the bill goes through the same procedure in the other house.
- If amendments are made in the other house, the first house must approve the changes.
- When the bill is accepted in both houses, it is signed by the respective leaders and sent to the governor.
- The governor signs the bill into law or may veto all or part of it. If the governor fails to act on the bill, it may become law without a signature.
For those of us old enough to remember, this whole thing is very Schoolhouse Rocky.
Bill update: Great news!
Yay! Our bill has passed the House and is now on it’s way to the Governor’s office for signing. We are ecstatic it has passed and we now have a second bill addressing this important subject.
Thank you everyone for your support in commenting on this bill and sharing just how much we need digital citizenship/media literacy education in our schools.
We’ll keep you posted with additional information as it becomes available so stay tuned! As legendary anchorman Ron Burgundy would say…
AME featured in News Tribune article regarding media literacy
An article about media literacy in the Tacoma News Tribune features several AME members discussing our impact within the education field and work on the Digitial Citizenship/Media Literacy bill. Linda Kennedy, Claire Beach and Marilyn Cohen are mentioned, as well as Senator Marko Liias, who has championed the bill since the very beginning.
The article quotes AME members and Senator Liias:
“Screens wake us up in the morning. They send us off to school,” says Linda Kennedy, a former Seattle television journalist who now offers media literacy education.
“It was something we needed to tackle, and we could do it in a way that does not put a burden on districts.” -Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood
“How do students interpret information they find online? That goes to the heart of media literacy…. We’re seeing thousands of devices being delivered into our schools,” Marilyn Cohen said. “We are in a revolution.”
Read more at The News Tribune.
Update: Digital Citizenship/Media Literacy bill, we need your support!
Yesterday, members of AME went to Olympia, WA to testify in support of the Digital Citizenship/Media Literacy bill. This is when we need your help to comment in support this bill!
Please be sure to go the link for our bill and leave a comment in the comment box. It’s very easy to do and only takes a few minutes. You don’t need to know your district representatives, you only need to give your zip code and your comment will be sent to your district’s representatives.
You can leave your comments here.
Thank you for your continued support!
Update: Washington State Senate Bill 5449 Concerning digital citizenship, media literacy and internet safety in schools
HURRAY!!! On March 2, 2017 Bill 5449 passed the Senate floor yeas, 40; nays, 9; with only 2 small substitute word changes.
Now it’s on the way to the House.
Its next public hearing at the House Education Committee is Thursday, March 16 at 8 a.m.
We continue to encourage you and any others you may know to show your support as the bill moves to the House.
If you haven’t already done so, please visit this link.
You’ll see the box Comment on this Bill to the right of the box labeled Bill Status at a Glance.
It’s very easy to indicate your support and only takes a very few minutes.
We’ll keep you updated on the bill’s progress. So far, so good! In the meantime, please feel free to contact us.
Update: SB 5449 has passed the Senate
The bill has passed the Senate 40 to 9. It is currently headed to the House where things will hopefully go smoothly.
To see remarkes from Senator Marko Liias speaking about the bill, view the below video starting at 43:30.
AME goes to Olympia to support SB5449
Here’s several photos from our recent trip to Olympia, WA in support of Senate Bill 5449.
AME members with fellow supporters.
AME members Linda Kennedy and Marilyn Cohen speak with Executive Legislative Assistant Curt Kohlwes.
AME member Linda Kennedy
AME Member Claire Beach
Senator Marko Liias
Update: Digital citizenship/media literacy Senate Bill 5449
The first public hearing for Senate Bill 5449 was held Monday, February 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the Cherberg Building in Olympia, WA. The proposed bill included three of the five recommendations made in the OSPI legislative report.
View the powerful statements made in support of the bill, discussed starting around 52:08 in the video below.
Additionally, today the bill is scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 1:30 p.m. Stand by to hear more about how this hearing will go, or watch it live here.
Please consider showing your show support for bill SB 5449, especially in a time when media literacy education is more important than ever. To do so, visit this link. At the top of the page on the right are the words “Comment on this bill” OR “Get Email Notification” OR “RSS Notifications.” Please consider following the bill updates, or leave a comment to provide feedback.
NAMLE spotlights NW Center for Media Literacy and Action for Media Education ground-breaking literacy bill
Recently the National Association for Media Literacy (NAMLE) sat down with AME’s own Marilyn Cohen, focusing on her work as Director of the Northwest Center for Excellence in Media Literacy based in the College of Education at the University of Washington.
While their conversation covered the many facets of the NW Center, it also focused on Action for Media Education’s amazing work in its 25 years, and triumph earlier in 2016 as it successfully lobbied for media literacy legislation.
The article states:
As Washington becomes the first state to pass this ground-breaking legislation, Marilyn and her AME colleagues look forward to helping and supporting others in the media literacy community across the U.S. in their quest to pass similar legislation in their respective states.
Read more in the NAMLE August bulletin.
Additional news about the success of our bill
Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media: New State Bill to include Media Literacy in Public Schools
Mast Media: How to… Media Literacy
Youth Today: Washington’s Digital Citizenship Legislation Could be Model
Washington State Parents and Teachers Association:
Legislature Down to Four Days Left in the Regular Session
Washington Becomes First State to Pass Media Literacy Education Law in 2016
We’re pleased to announce that Media Literacy is law in Washington State! Yesterday at 3:30pm, Governor Jay Inslee signed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6273 into law!
Washington passed the first bill in the country to address media literacy, digital citizenship and internet safety education in its schools! The bill represented a major milestone for media literacy education!
This bill has made us the first state in the country to pass media literacy legislation and has made Washington the model state.
The bill requires that all stakeholders “engage in an ongoing discussion on safe technology use, internet use, digital citizenship, and media literacy as part of implementing the state’s basic education goal” and requires that the government “must convene and consult with an advisory committee when developing best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy.”
The bill was first proposed late last year by Action for Media Education to State Senator Marko Liias, who sponsored the bill. The bill was then written by AME board members in consultation with Liias’ staff.
Those involved in helping form the bill were AME directors Marilyn Cohen and Barbara Johnson, AME president Claire Beach, media literacy educators Nick Pernisco, Michael Danielson, Ethan Delavan,and Lilia Cabello Drain, and media literacy activists Linda Kennedy Franklin, Lynn Ziegler, Cheryl Hidalgo, John Engerman, and Dalia Mendoza.
Thank you to all who have contributed so much time and energy to this effort!
New Washington State media literacy law plays key role in national movement
Crossposted from Media Literacy Now.
State Will Lead in Educational Best Practices & Research
Washington State’s new, progressive media literacy law provides leadership for a growing number of states advocating for digital citizenship and media literacy education. Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is now empowered to develop best practices and recommendations for teaching literacy that encompasses both new media and new technologies.
Continue reading “New Washington State media literacy law plays key role in national movement”