§§1-4

C.18A:7F-4.4

to 18A:7F-4.7

§4

Note to

C.18A:7F-46

 


P.L. 2022, CHAPTER 138, approved January 4, 2023

Senate Committee Substitute (Second Reprint) for

Senate, No. 588

 

 


An Act concerning the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  As used in this act, the term “information literacy” means a set of skills that enables an individual to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.  Information literacy includes, but is not limited to, digital, visual, media, textual, and technological literacy.

     b.    The State Board of Education shall adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards in 2[the separate content area of Information Literacy] information literacy2.  The content 2[area]2 of 2[Information Literacy] information literacy2 shall include 2[instruction on]2, at a minimum:

     (1)   the research process and how information is created and produced;

     (2)   critical thinking and using information resources;

     (3)   research methods, including the difference between primary and secondary sources;

     (4)   the difference between facts, points of view, and opinions;

     (5)   accessing peer-reviewed print and digital library resources;

     (6)   the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information; and

     (7)   the ethical production of information.

     2c.   Each school district shall incorporate instruction on information literacy in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The school library media specialist shall be included in the development of curriculum concerning information literacy whenever possible.2

 

     2.    The 2[State board] Department of Education2 shall convene a committee comprised of educators, the majority of which shall include certified school library media specialists, as well as 1[teachers] teaching staff members1 across a broad spectrum of subject areas, 2[and Department of Education personnel]2 to develop New Jersey Student Learning Standards in 2[the separate content area of Information Literacy] information literacy2. The committee shall engage experts to review the standards it develops.

 

     3.    Prior to adopting New Jersey Student Learning Standards 2[in the separate content area of Information Literacy] concerning information literacy2, the State board shall conduct at least one public hearing in the northern part of the State, at least one public hearing in the central part of the State, and at least one public hearing in the 1[Southern] southern1 part of the State for the purpose of permitting the public to comment on the rigor, clarity, and reasonableness of the standards developed by the committee.

 

     4.    This act shall take effect immediately.  2The standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection b. of section 1 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall occur concurrent with each update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards required pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-46).2

 

 

                                

 

     Directs DOE to develop New Jersey Student Learning Standards in information literacy.