Pennsylvania HB 332: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for media literacy education.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 287
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 332
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BRIGGS, WAXMAN, GIRAL, WEBSTER, HILL-EVANS,
PIELLI, KENYATTA, BRENNAN, SANCHEZ, GUENST, ISAACSON,
DONAHUE, KHAN, CIRESI, FREEMAN, OTTEN, HOHENSTEIN, CERRATO
AND GREEN, JANUARY 27, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 27, 2025
AN ACT
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.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1556. Media Literacy Education.--(a) The Department
of Education, in consultation with the State Board of Education,
shall:
(1) Develop, within six (6) months of the effective date of
this section, an age-appropriate model curriculum for students
in kindergarten through grade twelve for media literacy
instruction. Beginning with the school year that commences after
the effective date of this section, a school district shall
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incorporate into the school curriculum a component regarding
media literacy.
(2) The curriculum may include, but need not be limited to:
(i) developing critical thinking skills;
(ii) understanding how media messages shape culture and
society;
(iii) identifying target-marketing strategies;
(iv) naming techniques of persuasion used;
(v) recognizing bias and misinformation;
(vi) discovering parts of a story that are not being told;
and
(vii) evaluating media messages based on personal
experiences, skills, beliefs and values.
(3) The State Board of Education shall make this curriculum
available on the State Board of Education's publicly accessible
Internet website.
(4) The Department of Education shall make available to
school districts on the Department of Education's publicly
accessible Internet website a list of resources and materials on
media literacy and shall ensure that approved media literacy
training opportunities are made available for use in
professional development programs for teachers.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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