The Common Core State Standards outline rigorous content expectations with the intent to make all students ready for life in a technological society. To this end, they do not treat technology as a separate strand of content, but rather incorporate expectations of technological proficiency throughout the content standards. The need to use technological tools effectively is imbedded into every aspect of today's curriculum.

From the Common Core State Standards:

"To be ready for college, workforce training, and life in a technological society, students need the ability to gather, comprehend, evaluate, synthesize, and report on information and ideas, to conduct original research in order to answer questions or solve problems, and to analyze and create a high volume and extensive range of print and nonprint texts in media forms old and new."

"The need to conduct research and to produce and consume media is embedded into every aspect of today's curriculum. In like fashion, research and media skills and understandings are embedded throughout the Standards rather than treated in a separate section."

"Students who are college and career ready employ technology thoughtfully to enhance their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language use. They tailor their searches online to acquire useful information efficiently, and they integrate what they learn using technology with what they learn offline. They are familiar with the strengths and limitations of various technological tools and mediums and can select and use those best suited to their communication goals."

Digital Literacy Curriculum

E-rate is a federal program designed to bring Internet connectivity and telecommunications into schools. All schools receiving E-rate discounts must comply with the Internet safety educational requirements outlined in the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Rialto USD is using the free resources provided by Common Sense Media to help our district comply with these requirements. Common Sense Education’s crosscurricular framework and scope and sequence can be found here.

Districts receiving E-rate discounts are encouraged to choose one of the two implementation options provided by Common Sense Education. Rialto USD is implementing Option 1 where we teach at least one Digitital Literacy lesson per grade level for elementary and high school. Middle schools are required to teach two lessons per grade level. 

Common Sense Education’s free Digital Citizenship Curriculum provides teachers with grade-level appropriate, ready-to-use lessons related to Cyberbulling, Digital Drama & Hate Speech, News & Media Literacy, Media Balance & Well-Being, Privacy & Security, Digital Footprint & Identity, and Relationships & Communication. Lesson objectives, student handouts, slides, videos, assessments, and parent tips are included in the provided lesson plans.