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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-9B-02" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="9B">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year, the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, in consultation with the Department, shall develop and publish a youth–centric technology and social media resource guide that meets the requirements under § 7–9B–03 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The guide shall cover commonly used youth–centric technology for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Personal use by children; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Delivering education to children.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Center shall complete the guide before the 2027–2028 school year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Center shall periodically update the guide.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The purpose of the guide is to provide:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Age–appropriate information and best practices for youth–centric technology that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Encourages students and parents and guardians to understand how youth–centric technology and social media can be used and misused by developers and users; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Promotes informed decision making when using youth–centric technology; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Information and guidance on the safe use of youth–centric technology, including the Internet and social media by students in prekindergarten through grade 12.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On or before September 1, 2026, the Center shall complete a needs assessment to assist in the development of the guide.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The needs assessment shall include a review of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Existing State and federal resources for contribution to the development of the guide;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Existing efforts to educate families on the impact of youth–centric technology and social media on the mental health of youth in the State; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Gaps in the existing resources and education efforts.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
