Media Literacy in Massachusetts: A Landscape Scan

The first-ever major statewide initiative to document the scope of media literacy education in American public schools

Click here to read the report 

To better understand the status, challenges, and opportunities for advancing media literacy education in K-12 public schools, the Office of Literacy & Humanities of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) commissioned this report from Media Literacy Now in partnership with the Media Education Lab. 

This year-long study includes a comprehensive literature review, interviews with Massachusetts K-12 educators, an online survey of Massachusetts teachers, and input from national media literacy experts and experienced education professionals who participated in a three-round Delphi expert panel.

Media literacy is a life skill that belongs in every subject area—not just social studies—to support students’ civic journeys. In today’s digital world, students must be able to think critically, evaluate sources, and understand media messages’ influences—and this must become a habit developed via every subject they study at all grade levels, so that students develop the foundational and advanced-level skills they need to meet the challenges of engaging in democratic society today. 

Massachusetts has a longstanding reputation for leading the nation in education and has been a pioneer in providing students with significant learning opportunities to develop and practice media literacy-related skills. The state’s support for local innovation has long been a key strategy for advancing innovation.