Examining the Promise and Peril of Media Literacy Education Mandates in Illinois Public High Schools

The current study examines awareness and enactment of a 2021 Illinois policy mandating a media literacy education unit in public high schools (Public Act 102-0055). An online survey of 192 teachers and librarians shows most were aware of the mandate and reported teaching media literacy, but implementation varied widely. Instruction emphasized accessing information and analyzing and evaluating media messages, with less attention to creating media. Respondents reported confusion over the undefined term “unit,” which is written into the law, often leading to integrated rather than stand-alone instruction. Overall, ambiguous policy language and weak enforcement produced uneven implementation, constraining the policy’s intended impact across Illinois public schools.