SB 5637
In CommitteeSenate
Media literacy & civic ed.
Promoting student access to information about media literacy and civic education.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill strengthens civic and media literacy education in Washington public high schools by requiring a stand-alone civics course and adding new media literacy content starting in the 2026–27 school year. It also tasks the state education office with developing and regularly updating free teaching resources to support schools.
- Requires every high school in Washington to offer a mandatory half-credit standalone civics course for graduation, separate from other social studies courses (unless part of a dual-credit program).
- Expands the required civics course content starting in the 2026–27 school year to include media literacy (e.g., identifying fake news, understanding deepfakes, evaluating bias) and civic engagement tools (e.g., voter registration, policy advocacy, redistricting).
- Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to develop and post free, publicly available civics and media literacy teaching materials by September 1, 2025, in partnership with nonprofit organizations.
- Requires OSPI to review and update media literacy resources at least every five years to keep them current and relevant.
- Defines media literacy as the ability to decode, analyze, evaluate, and create messages across all forms of media—including digital platforms.
Who is affected
- High school students — High school students in Washington public schools will be required to take a new or updated civics course that includes media literacy and civic engagement topics starting in the 2026–27 school year.
- Public school districts — School districts must ensure their civics curriculum meets the new state requirements, including offering a half-credit standalone civics course and integrating media literacy content by 2026–27.
- Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) — The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must develop and regularly update free, publicly available teaching materials on civics and media literacy for use by educators.
- Civic and media literacy nonprofits — Nonprofit organizations focused on civic education and media literacy will partner with OSPI to help create and review curriculum resources.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
Mandating a standalone half-credit civics course ensures all high school students receive structured, required civic education—addressing documented gaps in civic knowledge (e.g., only 46% of Americans could name all three branches of government in 2022) and building foundational democratic literacy.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)Expanding the civics curriculum to include voter registration, media literacy (e.g., identifying deepfakes, bias, misinformation), and civic engagement tools directly equips students with tools to participate meaningfully in democracy—especially critical in an era of widespread misinformation and declining youth civic intent (33% of young adults reported no civic participation intent in 2024).
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(a)-(d)OSPI’s requirement to develop and post free, publicly available teaching materials—developed in partnership with nonprofits—lowers barriers for under-resourced districts and ensures equitable access to high-quality civic and media literacy curriculum across Washington’s diverse school systems.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(b)(i)The statutory definition of media literacy as the ability to decode, analyze, evaluate, and create messages across all media forms provides a rigorous, actionable framework for educators—supporting critical thinking skills that extend beyond politics into digital citizenship and consumer awareness.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(5)
Potential Concerns (1)
The requirement to review and update media literacy resources every five years may impose administrative burden on OSPI and school districts, but no dedicated funding is specified—potentially diverting existing education staff time and resources toward compliance rather than direct instruction.
EducationRef: Sec. 2(4)(b)(ii)
Who Is Most Affected
Students gain required civic and media literacy skills that support informed participation in democracy, protect against misinformation, and improve long-term civic engagement—especially beneficial for historically disengaged or underserved youth.
School districts must align curriculum and instruction to meet new requirements, but the bill provides free state-developed resources and allows flexibility in implementation (e.g., dual-credit options), reducing fiscal burden relative to the mandate.
OSPI gains new responsibilities for curriculum development and review, but the bill does not specify new funding—relying on existing staff or reallocation, which may strain current education technology and curriculum teams.
Nonprofits focused on civic education and media literacy gain partnership opportunities with the state to co-develop and disseminate curriculum—potentially expanding their reach, influence, and funding pipelines.