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Senate bill would add media literacy to Rhode Island civics curriculum; committee holds bill
Summary
Sen. Mark Oyer introduced S-638 to add media literacy to the state's existing Civic Literacy Act; supporters including the Department of State and education groups backed the change as timely, and the committee voted to hold the bill for further consideration.
Senator Mark Oyer introduced legislation, S-638, to add media literacy instruction to Rhode Island's existing Civic Literacy Act. The bill was presented to the Senate Education Committee and subsequently held for further review.
Oyer told the panel, "what this bill does is makes a simple tweak, addition, to that law, which basically adds media literacy to civics education." He described recent local examples of social media amplification that, in his view, illustrated why schools should teach students to "be critical consumers of information" and "consider the source."
Erin Stevenson, deputy director of civic education in the Rhode Island Department of State, testified in support and said the secretary of state's office has expanded civic programming and "visited over 87 classrooms" across Rhode Island. Stevenson said the office's Rhode Island Civic Leadership Program already incorporates media-literacy skills and that embedding those skills in middle- and high-school curricula would help students evaluate credibility and distinguish news from opinion and advertising.
Andy Andrade of the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) told the committee that media literacy is already included in some standards and in RIDE's civic leadership guidebook. He said the guidebook contains a section titled "develop civic media literacy" and provides resources for classroom implementation. Tim Duffy of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees also testified in support, arguing that misinformation undermines voters' ability to make informed decisions.
After questions from committee members, the panel took a voice vote on a motion to hold S-638. Chairwoman Gallo announced, "S638 is held." No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
The committee hearing record shows support from state civic-education staff and statewide education groups but does not record final amendments or implementation details; the bill was held for further consideration.
