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AB-2452 • 2026

Curriculum frameworks: instructional materials evaluation criteria: media literacy.

Curriculum frameworks: instructional materials evaluation criteria: media literacy.

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Hadwick
Last action
2026-03-19
Official status
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify exact implementation dates or detailed steps for how schools will incorporate media literacy into their curriculums.

Media Literacy in School Curriculums

This law requires schools to consider incorporating media literacy content into their curriculum frameworks and evaluation criteria for instructional materials, focusing on digital citizenship skills such as time management, online safety, and recognizing harmful behaviors.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Instructional Quality Commission to consider adding media literacy content into English language arts/English language development (ELA/ELD) curriculum frameworks after January 1, 2024.
  • Requires the commission to include media literacy in criteria for evaluating ELA/ELD instructional materials when adopted by the State Board of Education after January 1, 2025.
  • Requires the Instructional Quality Commission to consider adding media literacy content into mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks after January 1, 2024.
  • Requires the commission to include media literacy in criteria for evaluating instructional materials for math, science, and history-social science when adopted by the State Board of Education after January 1, 2025.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Schools that follow California's curriculum frameworks and evaluation criteria.
  • The Instructional Quality Commission responsible for recommending curriculum frameworks to the State Board of Education.
  • Students who will learn about media literacy in their classes.

Terms To Know

Instructional Quality Commission
A group that recommends curriculum frameworks and instructional materials to the State Board of Education.
Media Literacy
The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and use media and information, including digital citizenship skills like online safety and recognizing harmful behaviors.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is not clear when the bill will become law or be implemented.
  • The specific details of how schools will incorporate these changes are not provided in the summary.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-19 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  2. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ED.

  3. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  4. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2452, as introduced, Hadwick.
Curriculum frameworks: instructional materials evaluation criteria: media literacy.
Existing law establishes the Instructional Quality Commission and requires the commission to, among other things, recommend curriculum frameworks and the adoption of instructional materials to the State Board of Education.
Existing law requires the commission to consider incorporating the Model Library Standards into the next revision of the English language arts/English language development (ELA/ELD) curriculum framework after January 1, 2024, and to also consider incorporating media literacy content at each grade level. Existing law requires the commission to consider including the Model Library Standards, including media literacy content, in its criteria for evaluating instructional materials when the state board next adopts ELA/ELD instructional materials after January 1, 2025.
Existing law requires
the commission to consider incorporating media literacy content into the mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are next revised after January 1, 2024. Existing law requires the commission to consider including media literacy content in its criteria for evaluating instructional materials when the state board next adopts mathematics, science, and history-social science instructional materials after January 1, 2025.
Existing law defines media literacy, for the above-described purposes, as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and use media and information and encompasses the foundational skills that lead to digital citizenship.
This bill would specify that those skills include, but are not limited to, an understanding of, among other things, time management and healthy behaviors on social media, the permanency of sharing material online, and how to maintain personal
security and identify cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and human trafficking on the internet.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF