WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 10, 2025 — The News Literacy Project today announced that 14 school districts have been accepted to its District Fellowship program, including Hancock County Schools.
Joining the fourth cohort of the program, HCS is the first district in W.Va. to be selected since the Fellowship’s inception. The three-year fellowship provides $30,000 grants and customized support to implement news literacy education districtwide, ensuring all students learn to think critically and engage responsibly with the news and information.
HCS has created an initial Fellowship committee, including Morgan Bricker, Weir High School journalism teacher, Weir Student Media adviser, and Fellowship lead; Kristin Bissett, HCS Federal Programs/Student Services/Assessment Director; Chris Enochs, HCS CTE/Adult Education/Secondary Education Director; and Erica Sauer, HCS Special Programs/Pre-K/Elementary Director. The committee plans to add members and eventually bring in leads from each school in the county.
“We are very excited for the collaboration between Hancock County Schools and The News Literacy Project. This fellowship will help us to equip students with essential skills in critical thinking, effective communication, and digital literacy, preparing them to thrive in an increasingly complex and connected world,” said Bissett.
Working with the News Literacy Project, this team will design and implement an innovative action plan to instill news literacy skills in all students from kindergarten through senior year before they graduate high school, empowering them to be active participants in democracy. They hope to create a positive and lasting impact in the school community.
“We are so fortunate and grateful for this amazing opportunity. Participating in the fellowship is going to help us find a way to address one of the most pressing challenges facing education – and really democracy – today: how to navigate an everchanging news and media landscape. We are all drowning in information, and this grant will give us the skills and resources we need to wade through it,” said Bricker.
A study by the News Literacy Project reveals that a staggering 94% of teens believe media literacy should be a required part of their education. Yet the study found that most students aren’t receiving the instruction they need to navigate an increasingly complicated information landscape. The District Fellowship program exists to close this gap.
“Even though Gen Z and Gen Alpha are digital natives, they’re often overwhelmed by the nonstop flood of information online,” said Charles Salter, President and CEO of the News Literacy Project. “This year’s record participation in the fellowship program shows that district leaders get it: Students are hungry for news literacy, and educators are stepping up to meet that demand.”
Now in its fourth year, the fellowship spans 30 districts across 16 states, with the potential to reach more than 1.5 million students. Three of the 10 largest school districts in the U.S. are a part of the program: Los Angeles, Chicago and Clark County, Nevada. Suburban and rural districts of all sizes are also well-represented.
“Young people are eager to learn the critical, independent thinking skills they need to navigate the online world with confidence and avoid being misled,” said Ebonee Otoo, Senior Vice President of Educator Engagement at the News Literacy Project. “The District Fellowship program empowers districts to answer that urgent call.”
Applications for the next fellowship cohort open in October and close in December. Beginning in January, applications for future cohorts will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Districts accepted to this year’s fellowship program include:
Chicago Public Schools, IL
Public Schools of Brookline, MA
Helena Public Schools, MT
Rochester City School District, NY
Avonworth School District, PA
Butler Area School District, PA
Round Rock Independent School District, TX
Southwest Educational Development Center, UT (representing six districts)
Hancock County Schools, WV
Click here to learn more about the District Fellowship program.
About the News Literacy Project
The News Literacy Project is a nonpartisan education nonprofit that works with teachers, school districts, states and community partners like libraries and after-school clubs to ensure students in all 50 states receive news literacy instruction before they graduate from high school. Learn more at www.newslit.org.
