HB4625 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 36184 RJT 66276 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4625

Introduced 1/31/2024, by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/27-20.07 new

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.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 27-20.07 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27-20.07 new)

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.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2024.