NLP partners with LAUSD, Broad Foundation to create national model of news literacy learning
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has awarded the News Literacy Project, the nation’s leading provider of news literacy education, a three-year, $1.15 million grant to support a partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The LAUSD is the largest independent school district in the United States, and the grant will ensure that all students learn essential news literacy skills and concepts before they graduate high school.
Through the partnership, NLP and LAUSD will pioneer a blueprint not only for districts in California seeking to align instruction with the state’s recent media literacy legislation, but also for others across the nation, as a growing number of states pass similar legislation.
“Students have a right to learn how to find information they can trust, share and act on, and they are put at a civic disadvantage for the rest of their lives if they don’t,” said Charles Salter, President and CEO of the News Literacy Project. “This partnership with The Broad Foundation and Los Angeles Unified School District will serve as a roadmap for school leaders across the country to follow and implement their own community-driven approach to news and media literacy instruction. Together, we can prepare the next generation to participate in civic life as well-informed, critical thinkers.”
Support indicates significance, urgency
This investment from The Broad Foundation represents the first time the organization has funded such a venture, marking the significance of the issue throughout the region. “Young people are growing up in an increasingly challenging and complex information landscape. The thoughtful and timely work of the News Literacy Project equips students with critical thinking skills so they can distinguish credible reporting from misinformation,” said Gerun Riley, president of The Broad Foundation. “Supporting NLP and LAUSD’s partnership is an important step in cultivating a healthy information ecosystem where L.A.’s students can find and use trustworthy information to make well-informed decisions and uplift our communities.”
Philanthropist Melanie Lundquist brought together the partnership among The Broad Foundation, LAUSD and NLP. “I am grateful to The Broad Foundation for their support of NLP and proud of LA Unified, of which I am an alum. This collaboration sends a strong message that in Los Angeles, our young people will be well-equipped to become active and informed citizens. This is not a partisan issue. The News Literacy Project sets the standard for impartial media literacy education, and that helps strengthen our democracy,” said Lundquist, who is the largest individual donor to NLP and a member of NLP’s Board of Directors.
LAUSD to join District Fellowship program
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, LAUSD will join the News Literacy District Fellowship program, a nationwide initiative that supports school leaders to design and implement their own innovative, sustainable plans for news and media literacy education for all students in their districts.
“Protecting democracy starts in America’s classrooms, and I appreciate The Broad Foundation’s commitment to our students and teachers in advancing news literacy curriculum,” said LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “In addition to our recent investment of $2 million in state monies to support educators to develop content, we are pleased to partner with organizations like NLP to implement media literacy education across our District. This collaboration will set the standard for effective news literacy instruction in classrooms across the country.”
NLP provides professional learning for administrators and educators and curriculum resources such as The Sift® newsletter and Checkology®, an award-winning e-learning platform for teaching news literacy. To learn more, read about the work of educators in New Mexico who have just completed their fellowship.