Outline of the state of Washington
State
Washington
Required

Category
Acceptable Internet Use Policies

Category
Acceptable Internet Use Policies

State law requires districts to adopt Internet use policies or to provide instruction on safe Internet use.

Revised Code of Washington 28A.650.045 Digital citizenship internet safety and media literacy—Best practices and recommendations—Annual review—Model policy update and checklist for future updates.

(1)(a) By December 1, 2016, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop best practices and recommendations for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy, and report to the appropriate committees of the legislature, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036, on strategies to implement the best practices and recommendations statewide. The best practices and recommendations must be developed in consultation with an advisory committee as specified in (b) of this subsection. Best practices and recommendations must include instruction that provides guidance about thoughtful, safe, and strategic uses of online and other media resources, and education on how to apply critical thinking skills when consuming and producing information.

  • (b) The office of the superintendent of public instruction 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 advisory committee must include: Representatives from the Washington state school directors’ association; experts in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy; teacher-librarians as defined in RCW 28A.320.240; and other stakeholders, including parent associations, educators, and administrators. Recommendations produced by the committee may include, but are not limited to:
  • (i) Revisions to the state learning Standard for educational technology, required under RCW 28A.655.075;
  • (ii) Revisions to the model policy and procedures on electronic resources and internet safety developed by the Washington state school directors’ association;
  • (iii) School district processes necessary to develop customized district policies and procedures on electronic resources and internet safety;
  • (iv) Best practices, resources, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy; and
  • (v) Strategies that will support school districts in local implementation of the best practices and recommendations developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction under (a) of this subsection.

(2) Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, a school district shall annually review its policy and procedures on electronic resources and internet safety. In reviewing and amending the policy and procedures, a school district must:

  • (a) Involve a representation of students, parents or guardians, teachers, teacher-librarians, other school employees, administrators, and community representatives with experience or expertise in digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety issues;
  • (b) Consider customizing the model policy and procedures on electronic resources and internet safety developed by the Washington state school directors’ association;
  • (c) Consider existing school district resources; and
  • (d) Consider best practices, resources, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and models for instruction in digital citizenship, internet safety, and media literacy, including methods to involve parents.
Policy Type
Statute

Revised Code of Washington 28A.650.050 Digital citizenship internet safety and media literacy—Web-based location with links recommending practices and resources.

(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall create a web-based location with links to recommended successful practices and resources to support digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety for use in the 2017-18 school year. The web-based location must incorporate the information gathered by the survey in section 3 of this act. (2) Thereafter, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall continue to identify and develop additional open educational resources to support digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety in schools for the web-based location. (3) Media literacy resources must consist of a balance of sources and perspectives.

Policy Type
Statute