In terms and courses of study, providing for social media literacy education.
Summary
HB2176 would add a new section to the Pennsylvania Public School Code requiring the State Board of Education’s academic standards to include social media literacy education. The required instruction would cover the effects of social media and mobile device use on students’ mental, psychological, and physical health; the impact of such use on academic growth and learning; safe social media practices; recognizing suspicious online behavior such as cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and potential human trafficking; and maintaining personal security on mobile devices.
The bill also directs the Department of Education to develop and make available social media literacy materials for school entities and nonpublic schools, and to offer social media literacy programming through continuing professional education hours for educators. It permits the State Board to review and revise existing health, safety, and physical education standards to implement the new requirements, and it expressly states that the new section does not override collective bargaining agreements between school entities and employee organizations.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend the Public School Code of 1949 by adding a statewide social media literacy mandate within academic standards and related educator training. It would affect public school entities, charter schools, cyber charter schools, career and technical schools, intermediate units, and qualifying nonpublic schools by requiring access to materials and, indirectly, alignment of instruction with updated standards. The measure would also give the Department of Education a new role in developing instructional resources and professional development content, while leaving labor agreements intact.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have generally favorable support, as reflected by repeated committee approval and final passage in the House. It was reported out of the House Education Committee, re-reported by House Appropriations, and then passed the House floor with a clear majority. The vote margins show support outweighed opposition, though the final passage vote also indicates a meaningful minority of members opposed the measure.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to be whether the state should mandate or expand curriculum standards in this area and how much discretion should remain with local schools and educators. The inclusion of topics such as cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and human trafficking suggests broad support for student safety, but the bill’s requirement to embed these topics in state standards may have raised concerns among some lawmakers about state-level curriculum direction, implementation burden, or the scope of Department of Education involvement. The explicit non-preemption of collective bargaining agreements also suggests sensitivity to labor concerns in school districts.
In terms and courses of study, further providing for youth suicide awareness and prevention and providing for violence prevention and social inclusion.