CARLISLE – This week during U.S. Media Literacy Week, Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe visited the Carlisle Area School District to lead a discussion with students about the importance of information and media literacy in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape and remind teachers, parents, and students about the free online toolkit her department has made available to help students build those crucial skills.
After Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2024 budget address, the Pennsylvania Department of Education was tasked with developing resources to help schools navigate and incorporate information literacy in their classrooms. Department officials released the Information and Media Literacy Toolkit in September 2024, equipping students, teachers and parents with skills to use digital spaces responsibly.
The toolkit has been accessed more than 1,700 times, and gives students the power to distinguish between credible, factual information and misinformation – putting new resources and tools directly in the hands of students. The toolkit provides up-to-date resources such as fact-checking tools, resources for educators and families, organizations and online communities, and more.
The toolkit offers resources for recognizing biases; distinguishing credible information from misinformation; creating, consuming, and sharing content in a responsible manner; and developing critical thinking and information literacy skills.
Shapiro has made education a top priority of his administration since his first day in office. Since taking office, he has secured more than $2 billion in additional K-12 education funding. His 2025-26 budget proposal continues to build on the foundation the administration has laid over the past few years, including a $75 million increase for public K-12 schools and an additional $526 million to drive dollars out to the schools and students that need them most, state education officials said.
