September 30, 2025 - 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.List of Speakers:Dr. Chelton Hunter, Middletown Area High School SuperintendentGovernor Josh ShapiroJoshua Rytel, TeacherSana Vereen, StudentPDE Acting Secretary Dr. Carrie RoweSenator Patty Kim
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