JOIN US!
Meet some of the Massahusetts school leaders, educators, librarians, and tech specialists who are implementing media literacy in Massachusetts schools!
DATE: Monday, March 30, 2026
TIME: 2 - 3 PM
LOCATION: Online.
Click here to register
What's happening with media literacy in Massachusetts? A statewide report released in late 2025 (co-authored by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with the nonprofit Media Literacy Now) outlines the current landscape of media literacy in K-12 schools. It finds:
Many educators already integrate core media literacy skills — analyzing media, creating media products, and inquiry-driven research — into their teaching.
There’s strong interest among teachers to expand this instruction, especially for younger students.
The report includes recommendations for Massachusetts to be a national leader, such as issuing statewide guidance, investing in teacher professional development, supporting school librarians as media literacy leaders, and tying competencies into assessments.
This shows policy momentum but also that implementation in classrooms still has room to grow.
There's a legal basis for media literacy instruction. Massachusetts law now encourages (but does not mandate) school districts to include media literacy instruction at all grade levels. The statute says schools should help students:
Access, analyze, evaluate, and create all types of media.
Integrate this into core subjects, life skills, digital literacy or other coursework.
This means media literacy is on the books as part of what schools should do, creating an important foundation for future policy and instruction.
Digital and AI Literacy have important overlaps with media literacy. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has issued guidance on AI in classrooms, which often overlaps with media literacy (evaluating digital content, understanding algorithmic biases, ethical use of tools, etc.). Teachers are already talking about AI tools and literacy as part of classroom practice.
Good things are happening at the district level. There are individual efforts in schools as teachers in Massachusetts high schools have been integrating news and information literacy into courses for years as part of civics and social studies. Now, some school districts are offering PD for educators. Join us to see what's cooking all across the state!