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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri creates a media literacy pilot program for K-12 schools to study critical thinking and digital safety
Last action · March 26, 2026: Reported Do Pass (H)Sponsors: Jim Murphy and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is directed to establish a and Critical Thinking Pilot Program for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years, selecting five to seven diverse school districts to participate and report on student learning strategies.
Participating school districts must integrate into daily curricula and submit implementation reports by August 1, 2029, while the state department must compile these findings into a legislative report by January 1, 2030, to shape future statewide education standards.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The department is required to establish the pilot program, select participating districts, compile site reports, and submit a summary report to the general assembly.
school districts
Selected districts must implement classroom curricula addressing media literacy components and submit an implementation report before August 1, 2029.
Key Facts
- The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall establish the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Pilot Program to run during the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years.
- The department must select five to seven diverse school districts to participate in the pilot program and study its outcomes.
- Participating pilot sites must address news content literacy, visual literacy, digital fluency, and digital literacy in classroom curricula.
- Pilot program sites must submit an implementation and findings report to the department before August 1, 2029.
Show all 6 facts
- The department must compile the district reports and submit a summary report to the general assembly before January 1, 2030.
- The pilot program terminates on June 30, 2029, and the governing statute expires on December 31, 2029.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which schools will participate in the pilot program?
When does the pilot program end?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
12 actions- Mar 26, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Do Pass (H)
- Mar 26, 2026HouseCommitteeVoted Do Pass (H)
- Mar 26, 2026HouseExecutive Session Completed (H)
- Mar 10, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Rules - Administrative(H)
- Mar 3, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Do Pass (H)
- Mar 3, 2026HouseCommitteeVoted Do Pass (H)
Show 6 earlier actions
- Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session Completed (H)
- Feb 24, 2026HousePublic Hearing Completed (H)
- Feb 5, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Children and Families(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 1, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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