Three-year, $30,000 grants support districts to teach news literacy
Applications now open for News Literacy Project’s District Fellowship program
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 11, 2025 — Applications are now open for the News Literacy Project’s District Fellowship program, a three-year initiative that includes a $30,000 grant to help school districts develop and implement news literacy instruction.
Many students lack the skills to identify credible information, cite reliable evidence and recognize falsehoods, viral rumors and manipulated content. Yet 60% of young people are not taught how to navigate today’s complicated information landscape using news and media literacy skills, according to a 2024 study of American teens by the News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit.
The fellowship aims to change that by providing the expertise and guidance districts need to develop and implement plans to teach all students news literacy. Fellows benefit from curriculum guidance and professional learning from the News Literacy Project, and join a network of supportive, like-minded peers from across the country.
Now in its fourth year, the fellowships have had a potential impact on more than 80,000 educators and 1 million students in 17 districts across 13 states. Participating districts include large urban school systems such as the Los Angeles Unified School District and smaller rural districts in states like Iowa and Oklahoma.
One district’s success story
Educators in Utah’s Canyons School District applied for a fellowship in 2022 because they were concerned about the destructive effect social media was having on their school community.
“The problem is that information is moving so fast, that they can’t keep up. And teachers and students are saying, ‘Can you help us?’” said Jodi Ide, a Canyons high school social studies specialist. “It had to be something that was district-wide if we were really going to have meaningful, impactful change.”
Through the fellowship and additional support from the state, Canyons leaders now have a plan to train 300 educators to teach news literacy. Their objective is to help educators integrate news and media literacy into what they’re already teaching, no matter the grade or subject. More than 200 teachers already have participated in professional development.
School leaders also created a news and media literacy course for ninth graders to ensure their students graduate high school with the skills necessary to be informed, active citizens in their communities.
“It gave us solid tools instead of me having to figure this out on my own. I have the support and help from both the district and the News Literacy Project,” said Lacee Kendall, a health and biology teacher at Corner Canyon High School.
How to apply
Applications are due May 16. Public school district leaders, administrators and curriculum directors are encouraged to apply. The district’s lead administrator must sign the application.
Districts in all states can apply but preference will be given to those in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
An online information session is April 16. Click here to sign up, to access the application and to learn more.
About the News Literacy Project
The News Literacy Project is a nonpartisan nonprofit building a national movement to ensure that all students are skilled in news literacy before high school graduation, giving them the knowledge and ability to participate in civic society as well-informed, critical thinkers. Founded in 2008, NLP is the country’s leading provider of news literacy education and works with educators in all 50 states. Learn more at www.newslit.org.