WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 3264

Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Pilot Program

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Bauer and 2 co-sponsors

The bill creates a 2-year statewide pilot in seven districts to develop, test, and evaluate K–12 media literacy and critical thinking instruction, producing model resources and dra

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: B.Newton
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 3264

Summary — H 3264: "Media Literacy and Critical Thinking" Pilot Program

Note: The materials provided appear to conflate two different bills (a Massachusetts property-tax / PILOT provision and a separate South Carolina "Media Literacy and Critical Thinking" bill). The summary below focuses on the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking pilot program text (the title you gave). I also flag a date inconsistency within that text (see “Timing & procedural notes”).

Purpose and intent

Establish a statewide pilot program to develop, test, and evaluate classroom-based media literacy and critical thinking instruction across public schools, with the goal of producing model strategies, resources, professional development guidance, and draft preschool–grade 12 state standards for possible statewide adoption.

Key provisions

  • Definition of “media literacy”: includes the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and participate with all forms of media (print news and social media), recognition of bias and stereotypes, foundational digital citizenship and internet safety skills, and the integration of critical analysis of media messages into daily curricula.
  • Creation of the “Media Literacy and Critical Thinking” pilot program to be implemented and administered by the State Department of Education.
  • Pilot scope:
    • Operate during the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 school years (per the program description).
    • The Department will select seven school districts in geographically and demographically diverse parts of the state as pilot sites.
  • Pilot site responsibilities:
    • Address each component of media literacy.
    • Develop classroom strategies across all grades or a chosen preschool–grade 12 span.
    • Identify and use high‑quality resources.
    • Demonstrate and report on instruction in:
    • News content literacy (distinguishing verified information, opinion, propaganda; practice verification)
    • Visual literacy (interpreting/evaluating images and visual media)
    • Digital fluency (safe/responsible tech use and media’s influence on attitudes/behavior)
    • Digital literacy (technical fluency, informed decisions about online content, creating digital media)
  • Reporting and deliverables:
    • Each pilot site must submit an implementation report to the Department by August 1, 2028.
    • The Department will compile those reports and submit a statewide summary to the state legislative education committees by January 1, 2029. This summary must include qualitative/quantitative outcomes, a compendium of successful strategies/resources, professional development used, recommendations on facilities/materials/technology, policy/administrative/legislative recommendations, and a draft set of inclusive K–12 media literacy and critical thinking standards informed by pilot results.
  • Standards and review:
    • Standards developed from the pilot must be submitted for consideration in the state standards review process immediately after the pilot’s termination.
  • Funding and rulemaking:
    • The Department is required to run the pilot only if the Legislature appropriates money specifically for it. If no specific appropriation, the Department may use other available funds but is not required to.
    • The Department must adopt rules necessary to implement the pilot.

Who is affected

  • State Department of Education (program administration, reporting, rulemaking)
  • Seven selected public-school districts (implementation, reporting)
  • Teachers and students (preschool–grade 12 where implemented)
  • District administrators and professional development providers
  • State education policy makers and standards-review bodies

Timing & procedural notes

  • The bill text specifies implementation in the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years and sets reporting deadlines in 2028–2029.
  • The text also contains a termination clause stating the pilot “shall terminate on June 30, 2026, unless continued,” which conflicts with the specified 2026–27 and 2027–28 pilot years. This appears to be an internal drafting/timing inconsistency that would need clarification or correction.
  • Program establishment is contingent on legislative appropriation; otherwise implementation is optional using other funds.

Potential impacts

  • Produces tested curricula, resources, and professional development models for media literacy across grades.
  • Provides evidence and draft standards to inform statewide adoption of media literacy instruction.
  • Resource requirements include funding for program administration, local implementation, professional development, instructional materials, and evaluation.
  • Outcomes could influence state standards, district curricula, and teacher training in digital citizenship and critical thinking.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a one-page fact sheet for legislators or school districts.
- Draft suggested amendments to resolve the termination/date inconsistency and clarify funding language.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.