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Delaware Code Title 14. Education § 4146. Media literacy

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Media literacy” means the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and take action with all forms of communication, and encompasses the foundational skills of digital citizenship and internet safety including the norms of appropriate, responsible, ethical, and healthy behavior, and cyberbullying prevention.

(2) “Digital citizenship” means the diverse set of skills related to current technology and social media including the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior.

(b)(1) The Department of Education (Department) shall adopt evidence-based, media literacy standards (standards) for use by each school district and charter school serving students in 1 or more of the grades kindergarten through 12.

(2) The Delaware State Librarian and school districts and charter schools, including certified school librarians, may provide technical expertise to the Department regarding the standards.

(c) The standards and instructional materials must be age-appropriate and must address appropriate, responsible, and healthy online behavior, including all of the following:

(1) The purpose and acceptable use of different social media platforms.

(2) Understanding the negative impact of inappropriate technology use, including online bullying and harassment, hacking, intentional virus setting, invasion of privacy, and piracy of software, music, video, and other media.

(3) Social media behavior that promotes cybersafety, cybersecurity, and cyberethics, including etiquette, safety, security, and the identification of hate speech.

(4) Identifying credible sources of information and how to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and participate in all forms of digital communication.

(5) Critical thinking skills, including all of the following:

a. Understanding how media messages shape culture and society.

b. Identifying target-marketing strategies and naming techniques of persuasion used.

c. Recognizing bias and misinformation by discovering parts of the story that are not being told and evaluating media messages based on personal experiences, skills, beliefs, and values.

(6) Identifying the purpose of media messages and how they are constructed, including all of the following:

a. Explicit and implicit media messages.

b. Values and points of view that are included and excluded.

c. How the media may influence ideas and behaviors.

d. The importance of obtaining information from multiple sources.

(d) Every 3 years, the Department shall prepare a written report, no later than July 31, that includes the educational programming provided under this section and how the school districts and charter schools implemented the standards under this section.  The Department shall send this report to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to all members of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Legislative Services, and the Delaware Public Archives.

(e) The Department, with the approval of the State Board of Education, may promulgate regulations necessary to implement and enforce this section.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Delaware Code Title 14. Education § 4146. Media literacy - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/de/title-14-education/de-code-sect-14-4146/

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