Promoting student access to information about media literacy and civic education.

HB 1963 requires Washington state high schools to offer a mandatory half-credit civics course for all students starting in the 2026-27 school year. The course must cover government structures, civic rights, and current issues, with new media literacy components added to help students critically evaluate online information and combat misinformation like deepfakes. School districts must use resources developed by the state superintendent’s office, which will provide materials on media literacy and civic engagement tools by 2025. This bill directly affects all high school students in Washington, aiming to improve their ability to navigate media and participate in democracy.