Bill > HB492

This bill establishes the "Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act" in Missouri. It directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement a two-year pilot program from 2024-2026 to study media literacy and critical thinking skills in 5-7 diverse school districts. The pilot program will focus on teaching students to access, analyze, evaluate, and participate in various media, recognize bias and stereotypes, and develop digital citizenship and internet safety skills. The department will then compile the results and recommendations from the pilot program into a report for the state legislature, including proposed statewide standards for media literacy and critical thinking to be considered in the next state standards review process.