Deadline: ASAP to apply for the 2026-27 school year
Who: California public high school with 600+ students
Goal: Improve students’ media literacy and critical thinking skills, in alignment with California AB 873. See Mission
Award: $60,000 per year, potentially up to 3 years.
Objective: Critical thinking is usually approached as a whole, while, according to data, the fundamental component skills get little instruction. This grant is part of our research on the effectiveness of these fundamental component skills, including media literacy, to foster high-level critical thinking.
Eligibility: Public or charter school, grades 9-12. We are seeking a school with above-average scores on CAASPP ELA or Math to balance out the other schools already participating in this project.
Expectations:
| • | Dedicate 20% of a certified staff member’s time to serve as the Critical Thinking Coordinator (CTC) for the school for 2026-27. The CTC will: |
| • | Curate and create curriculum and resources for your teachers. |
| • | Meet with teachers throughout the year to encourage and coordinate lessons. |
| • | Administer online tests provided by us at the start and end of the year. |
Teachers may interpret and teach critical thinking skills as they see fit. Use of our learning apps is encouraged but not required.
Reporting: Occasional remote meetings to discuss plans, data, challenges, and successes, and to provide general feedback to us on lessons and resources.
(No written reports required.)
Research: We are measuring the collective effect of increased instruction over the long term in the real world, not the effectiveness of each specific lesson or resource in laboratory conditions. We will analyze the data and publish our findings.
Questions: [email protected]
