Bill > HB1792

This bill establishes the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act, which creates a pilot program in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop media literacy skills for students. The program will be implemented in five to seven diverse school districts during the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years, focusing on helping students develop critical skills for analyzing and understanding media. These skills include recognizing bias, understanding digital citizenship, internet safety, distinguishing between verified information and propaganda, evaluating visual media, understanding digital ethics, and learning about responsible social media use. The pilot program sites will develop strategies for integrating media literacy into classroom curricula, identify high-quality resources, and address components like news content literacy, visual literacy, digital fluency, and digital literacy. By August 2029, participating districts will submit reports, and by January 2030, the department will compile a comprehensive summary report for the general assembly, including insights, strategies, professional development recommendations, and proposed statewide media literacy standards. The pilot program will terminate on June 30, 2029, with the section expiring on December 31, 2029.