Bill > A3918

Introduced Session

This bill requires the development of guidance and training to address social media in harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools and requires that certain student learning standards be revised to include instruction on social media in school bullying. The bill requires that the training on harassment, intimidation, and bullying that school districts are required to provide to school employees and certain volunteers includes instruction on bullying though the use of social media. The bill also requires certain workshops and training programs established by the Commissioner of Education to train anti-bullying coordinators and anti-bullying specialists include information on the use of social media in incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. The bill directs the School Climate State Coordinator to establish an online portal with content and links to additional resources on the use of social media, its impact on sense of self and peer-to-peer relationships, and its role in harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Under the bill, the State Board of Education is directed to review and update the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies and Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills to ensure the incorporation of instruction on social media and digital citizenship. In its review, the State board is to consult with experts on student mental health, media consumption, digital privacy and identity, cyberbullying, cyber conflict, and hate speech. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a guidance document for use by school districts in navigating the role and impact of social media in incidents of student harassment, intimidation, and bullying. In developing the document, the commissioner is to consider the findings of the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force and the Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents. The guidance document is to be updated annually and be made available on the Department of Education's Internet site and on every school district's Internet site at an easily accessible location. This bill implements certain recommendations of the report from the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force, dated December 28, 2023.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Vicky Flynn (R)*,  Michele Matsikoudis (R), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 03/04/2024)

Official Document