STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1617

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 33

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 33 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO TEACH DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AND MEDIA LITERACY IN GRADES K-12 IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS AND HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education to convene an advisory committee to make recommendations to develop and implement a plan to teach digital citizenship and media literacy in kindergarten through grade twelve in public schools, including charter schools and Hawaiian language immersion schools.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that students use technology to play, learn, and communicate at school and home, and need to learn how to use technology responsibly. Media literacy is a necessary skill that allows all citizens to access, analyze, and evaluate information; create messages; and act using a variety of forms of communication. Students from kindergarten through grade twelve should be educated in media literacy to obtain the skills and experiences needed to become full participants in the digital world, including instruction in understanding how media shapes perceptions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 33 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair