Bill
Bill > SB839
summary
Introduced
06/06/2025
06/06/2025
In Committee
06/06/2025
06/06/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study, providing for media literacy education.
AI Summary
This bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop a media literacy curriculum for students in kindergarten through 12th grade within one year of the bill's effective date. The curriculum will be mandatory for school districts and focuses on helping students develop critical thinking skills related to media consumption. Specifically, the curriculum aims to teach students how to understand media message influences, recognize marketing and persuasion techniques, identify bias and misinformation, analyze what parts of stories might be missing, and evaluate media messages through personal experiences and values. The Department of Education must make the curriculum and related resources publicly available online and provide media literacy training opportunities for teachers as part of professional development programs. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, meaning school districts will need to incorporate media literacy instruction in the following school year.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (8)
Katie Muth (D)*,
Wayne Fontana (D),
Art Haywood (D),
Vincent Hughes (D),
John Kane (D),
Tim Kearney (D),
Steve Santarsiero (D),
Tina Tartaglione (D),
Last Action
Referred to Education (on 06/06/2025)
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