HB 1269: Quality Basic Education Act; content standards for digital literacy instruction; provide

Georgia law currently lets local school boards choose whether to teach students about online safety, and the state's model programs on social media risks only apply starting in sixth grade. This bill changes both of those things. It directs the State Board of Education to adopt statewide content standards for digital literacy covering topics like online safety, evaluating information (including AI-generated content), digital communication, basic computer skills, and data management. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, every local school board and public school governing body would have to provide grade-appropriate digital literacy instruction based on those standards for all students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill also expands the Department of Education's existing model programs on internet and social media safety to reach kindergarten instead of just sixth grade, and adds new required topics such as age verification, dangers of harmful online material, and responsible use of artificial intelligence. It requires the department to publish an annual report by December 1 on the reach and impact of online safety education, submitted to the legislature's education committees.

• Requires the State Board of Education to adopt statewide content standards for digital literacy instruction covering online safety, evaluating information, digital communication, and basic tech skills for grades K-12.
• Requires local school boards to provide grade-appropriate digital literacy instruction to all K-12 students starting in the 2027-2028 school year, using state model programs if they choose.
• Expands the Department of Education's existing online safety model programs to cover kindergarten through 12th grade instead of just sixth through 12th grade.
• Adds new required topics to the model programs, including age verification on websites, dangers of material harmful to minors, and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
• Requires the Department of Education to publish an annual report by December 1 assessing the reach and impact of online safety education, submitted to House and Senate education committees.
• Directs the Department of Education to provide technical assistance to local boards that incorporate digital literacy and online safety into their instructional programs.

Georgia public school students in kindergarten through 12th grade, local school boards and public school governing bodies that must design and deliver the new instruction, the State Board of Education and Department of Education, which must set standards and build model curricula, and the legislature's education committees, which receive the annual report.

Students as young as kindergarten would receive formal instruction on topics like online safety, cyberbullying, and AI-generated misinformation, areas previously addressed mainly starting in sixth grade or left to a school board's discretion. Local districts would face a new statewide instructional mandate rather than an optional one.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-149 by adding subsection (a), directing the State Board of Education to adopt content standards for digital literacy covering seven listed topic areas for grades K-12.
• New subsection (b) requires local boards to provide digital literacy instruction based on those standards beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, which may be folded into existing coursework.
• The revised model-program provisions expand coverage from grades six through twelve to kindergarten through grade 12 and add topics such as age verification, harmful material dangers, and responsible AI use.
• The Department of Education must periodically update model programs and publish information on its website, including curricula and instructional materials, and provide technical assistance to local boards.
• New subsection (d) requires an annual report by December 1 on the reach and impact of online safety education, submitted to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
• The bill preserves language allowing local boards to independently add an online and social media safety component on a schedule they set.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-03House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2026-02-12House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2026-02-11House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-02-10House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Will Wade (R, HD-009)Patrocinador principal
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
• Miriam Paris (D, HD-142)
• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)

• digital literacy
• online safety
• public schools
• artificial intelligence in schools
• curriculum requirements