HR1108: HR1108 Education; equip students with the skills of critical media consumption; recognize urgent need

26 LC 112 3685 House Resolution 1108 By: Representatives Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, and Schofield of the 63rd A RESOLUTION Recognizing the urgent need to equip Georgia's students with th e skills of critical media1 consumption to limit political polarization, strengthen civic r easoning, and reduce2 susceptibility to misinformation; encouraging the State Board of Education and the Georgia3 Department of Education to adopt and implement standards and pr ofessional learning4 supports for grades 9-12; and for other purposes.5 WHEREAS, political polarization in the United States has intens ified in recent years,6 contributing to hostile divisions and incidents of political vi olence that threaten our civic7 fabric; and8 WHEREAS, social media and fragmented media ecosystems can create echo chambers that9 discourage exposure to diverse viewpoints, amplify unverified o r misleading content, and10 heighten partisan animosity; and11 WHEREAS, young people increasingly receive news and information through digital12 platforms that are not required to present balanced or verified content, making students13 especially vulnerable to misleading narratives and manipulative techniques; and14 H. R. 1108 - 1 - 26 LC 112 3685 WHEREAS, critical media consumption—the ability to access, anal yze, evaluate, and15 interpret media for credibility, bias, and intent—has been shown to improve civic reasoning,16 reduce susceptibility to misinformation, and support constructive civic engagement; and17 WHEREAS, several states have adopted media/information literacy requirements and18 supports across K-12, demonstrating viable pathways Georgia can adapt to fit local needs;19 and20 WHEREAS, Georgia can integrate critical media consumption withi n existing English21 Language Arts and Social Studies courses without adding a new high-stakes test, relying on22 performance tasks, educator training, and locally chosen instructional materials.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that24 the members of this body recognize the importance of critical m edia consumption for the25 youth of this state as well as encourage the State Board of Education to adopt performance26 standards for Critical Media Consumption Education in grades 9- 12 and the Georgia27 Department of Education to develop professional learning, a resource bank of vetted lessons28 and assessments, and family engagement materials to support implementation.29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized30 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the31 State Board of Education, the Georgia Department of Education, the Professional Standards32 Commission, and each local board of education.33 H. R. 1108 - 2 -