At Middletown School, Gov Shapiro and PDE Secretary Encourage Digital Literacy | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Middletown, PA - In the midst of rising misinformation and violent rhetoric online, Governor Josh Shapiro visited Middletown Area High School in Dauphin County today to highlight the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)'s Information and Media Literacy Toolkit, which equips students, teachers, and parents with skills and tools to recognize biases, distinguish credible information from misinformation, and use digital spaces responsibly. The Governor was joined by PDE Acting Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe, local lawmakers, educators, and students to underscore the Shapiro Administration's work to strengthen digital literacy and help students safely navigate the online world.

"In today's digital age, our kids are constantly exposed to a flood of information online - some of it false or misleading," said Governor Shapiro. "Our goal is not to teach students what to think, but to give them the tools to discern fact from fiction, engage in thoughtful debate, and become informed citizens. The Information and Media Literacy Toolkit provides parents, teachers, and students with the resources they need to safely navigate online spaces and critically evaluate the information they encounter."

Inspired by First Lady Lori Shapiro, during his second budget address in February 2024, Governor Shapiro directed PDE and the Office of Commonwealth Libraries to develop resources to help schools incorporate information literacy into all aspects of learning, ensuring that Pennsylvania students have the skills to navigate the world around them. Following this directive, PDE surveyed schools to better understand digital literacy instruction, and 90 percent of responding schools indicated that a comprehensive toolkit with additional media and information literacy resources would be useful.

In response, the Shapiro Administration released the Information and Media Literacy Toolkit in September 2024. The toolkit, which has been accessed more than 1,700 times, offers resources for recognizing biases, distinguishing credible information from misinformation, and creating and sharing content responsibly. Drawing on evidence-based resources, it encourages critical thinking, active civic engagement, and a deeper understanding of past and current events, providing both educators and families with the tools needed to help students navigate today's complex media landscape.

"I believe the power of knowledge comes not just from access, but from understanding - asking the right questions, weighing evidence, and making sense of conflicting claims," said Acting Secretary Rowe. "In a world where misinformation spreads fast, the ability to distinguish fact from fiction is essential for education, civic life, and trust in our institutions. That's why the Department of Education created the toolkit - to give teachers, families, and students practical resources to navigate today's digital world. It's about learning to think critically, ask good questions, and become responsible consumers and creators of information-skills that matter for all of us."

During the visit, Governor Shapiro and Acting Secretary Rowe talked with Middletown students about how the toolkit can be used to:

• Recognize biases and misinformation online
  

• Distinguish credible sources from unreliable information
  

• Create and share content responsibly
  

• Develop critical thinking and information literacy skills

Middletown Area High School educates 727 students in grades 9 through 12, and digital literacy is embedded across all courses, with teachers trained in the "4 Cs" - creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking - and a curriculum that emphasizes responsible use of technology. Middle school students take dedicated courses in Digital Media and Information Technology, while elementary students are introduced to digital literacy concepts through the library curriculum.

Across Governor Shapiro's first two budgets, he secured a 20 percent increase - or $2.36 million - in state funding for the Middletown Area School District (MASD), bringing total FY 2024-25 funding to $14 million through basic education funding, cyber charter transition funding, special education funding, and Ready to Learn grants. Before he took office, MASD received $11.64 million in funding for FY 2022-23. Governor Shapiro is the first sitting Governor to visit MASD.

The Shapiro Administration has also invested in school safety and facilities at Middletown, including:

• A $1.16 million Public School Facilities Improvement Grant for Robert Reid Elementary School HVAC upgrades;
  

• A $147,047 School Safety and Mental Health Grant to fund a fourth School Safety Guard, additional emergency preparedness "GoBags," and a subscription to Care Solace; and
  

• A $171,280 School Safety Award to fund a third counselor at the high school, licenses for an Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS), Restorative Practices training, and partial funding for the PBIS Rewards digital management system.

Under the Shapiro Administration, Middletown Area High School has twice won a silver Governor's Civic Engagement Award for registering 65 to 84 percent of their eligible students to vote in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Governor Shapiro is committed to ensuring that Pennsylvania students have the support they need to learn and grow from early childhood through adulthood - benefitting from historic new investments secured by the Governor. The 2024-25 bipartisan budget delivered a record $1.1 billion increase in K-12 public education funding - the largest year-over-year increase in Pennsylvania history - strengthening school safety, ensuring fair and adequate funding, supporting educators, and helping every child chart their own path to success.

Governor Shapiro was also joined by Middletown Area High School Superintendent Dr. Chelton Hunter, teacher Joshua Rytel, student Sana Vereen, and Senator Patty Kim.

"We are committed to creating an environment where every student can become their very best," said Dr. Hunter. "Growth happens when students step outside their comfort zones, expand their skills, and prepare for success beyond high school. Our motto, 'every student, every day,' reminds staff and the community that every student deserves our very best to reach their potential. We are honored to be joined by leaders who share this commitment and understand the importance of equipping students with skills like digital literacy to thrive in an ever-changing world. As educators, one of our greatest privileges is the ability to change the trajectory of a student's life by investing in their success every day."

"I want to thank Governor Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Department of Education for their support in assisting our schools," said Rytel. "Students need to learn how to evaluate what is credible and relevant, and how to determine whether a source is reputable and supported by adequate evidence. That's what we emphasize in our classrooms - so students can apply these skills in ways that promote higher-order thinking and develop critical skills they will use throughout their lives."

"Our school uses digital filtering to ensure students thrive in a safe and enriching environment, with resources readily available and inappropriate or distracting material blocked," said Vereen. "Personally, when I browse social media, I also take care to verify sources and assess their credibility. The digital filtering system not only protects us from unreliable or harmful content, but also instills discipline - giving students an added advantage beyond its intended purpose."

"Just like history, math, science, and the arts expand our understanding of the world, digital literacy is an extension of learning," said Senator Kim. "Now, more than ever, it is imperative for students to develop the ability to differentiate between fact and fiction in online contexts and I commend Governor Shapiro's initiative to provide Pennsylvania's youngest residents with the essential skills to effectively navigate and interpret a complex media landscape."

"We're in a highly concerning, unprecedented era of misinformation using artificial intelligence and general manipulation," said Representative Tom Mehaffie. "The role of trusted sources in our society is sadly diminished. Any steps our educators can take to help young people become savvy news consumers are important ones."

Pennsylvania has been ranked by Consumer Affairs as one of the top five states in the nation for public education quality. The Shapiro Administration is creating a replicable model for how states can expand CTE opportunities, connect education to apprenticeships, and build the workforce of tomorrow.

For more information and to access the Information and Media Literacy Toolkit, visit PDE's toolkit page.

Governor Shapiro's visit today reinforced a clear message - we must keep going to ensure every student has the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.

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