(a) (1) By January 1, 2026, the department shall develop guidance for LEAs and public charter schools to instruct students in grades six through twelve (6-12) who are enrolled in the LEA or public charter school on social media and internet safety.(2) The department shall update the guidance developed pursuant to this subsection (a), if necessary, to reflect changes in social media use, emergent technologies, and new threats to teens using social media.(3) The guidance developed pursuant to this subsection (a) must conform with the requirements established in § 49-6-4604.
(1) By January 1, 2026, the department shall develop guidance for LEAs and public charter schools to instruct students in grades six through twelve (6-12) who are enrolled in the LEA or public charter school on social media and internet safety.
(2) The department shall update the guidance developed pursuant to this subsection (a), if necessary, to reflect changes in social media use, emergent technologies, and new threats to teens using social media.
(3) The guidance developed pursuant to this subsection (a) must conform with the requirements established in § 49-6-4604.
(b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each LEA and public charter school that enrolls students in any of the grades six through twelve (6-12) shall instruct students in grades six through twelve (6-12) using the guidance developed by the department pursuant to subsection (a).
(c) If a parent or guardian of a student wishes to excuse the parent's or guardian's student from only a portion of the social media and internet safety instruction provided pursuant to subsection (b), then the parent or guardian must submit a request, in writing, to the student's teacher or school principal. If the parent or guardian wishes to excuse the parent's or guardian's student from all of the social media and internet safety instruction provided pursuant to subsection (b), then the parent or guardian must submit a request, in writing, to the student's school principal. A student who is excused from any or all portions of social media and internet safety instruction must not be penalized for grading purposes if the student satisfactorily performs alternative lessons.