Common Sense Media announced that it is launching a new version of its widely used digital citizenship curriculum. This new curriculum, known as the Digital Literacy and Well-Being Curriculum, is for students K-8 and provides kids with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate and thrive in a world driven by technology. A new high school curriculum will also launch in the 2026-2027 school year.

The decision to overhaul the existing curriculum, which reaches 92,000 schools nationwide and 84% of Title 1 schools, was motivated by the fact that kids are facing a continuously changing digital world where the skills they need to navigate technology are evolving at a rapid pace. 

Not only is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) increasing significantly, but schools nationwide are in the throes of developing new cell phone and AI policies. These new learning materials will support those changes, says Eisha Buch, MeD, head of teaching and learning for Common Sense Media and one of the principal architects in the curriculum’s new design.

“We have all been watching technology continue to evolve generally [and] changing childhood faster than we can keep up with,” says Buch. “We wanted to evolve the curriculum and yet also span the test of time as it relates to the new technologies…and really focus in on what it means for kids to thrive in this tech-filled, always ‘on’ world.”

What Changes Did the Curriculum Undergo?

This update, which is the first major revision since 2018, was a two-year development process that involved input from a team of teaching and learning experts, surveys from educators, as well as real classroom testing. The finished product, which is free for schools to use, features 147 new K-8 lessons that address not only how to navigate an AI-powered world but also hone in on critical thinking skills and help kids learn how to use technology safely, responsibly, and with intentionality, says Buch.

One of the key changes the architects made was to shorten the lessons from 45 minutes to 20 minutes. They also made the curriculum more engaging and interactive, and included more family engagement resources.

“We know that teachers are strapped for time…and we wanted to make sure this is easy, quick, and requires minimal prep,” explains Buch. 

She says they also wanted to ensure they were addressing all the new evolutions that have happened in the technology landscape. “We wanted to make sure we were addressing both how tech is being used by kids now and what the pain points are. So there are new topics we’re covering, like talking about parasocial relationships or deep fakes, and what to do if something gets shared.”

How This New Curriculum Will Benefit Students—And Teachers

Aside from the shorter lessons and the fact that the curriculum doesn’t require any advanced preparation for teachers, Stephanie Banning, a former educator and consultant in Kansas with more than 20 years of experience, says she loves the curriculum’s interactiveness and how it promotes conversations within the classroom.

“The students are so engaged when we do these activities because they are real,” says Banning. “They see these scenarios and understand them, so they engage and debate and talk about these topics. And, really there is no right or wrong answer during these discussions.”

Banning says kids who are sometimes reluctant to participate in classroom discussions are getting involved and sharing ideas. She says these lessons help the messages hit home because students can relate to the circumstances described and work through how they would handle a situation. It’s more meaningful than just taking in information about what to do and not do online, she says.

For instance, most kids know not to share personal information online, but when they find themselves in a tricky real-world situation, they may still overstep these boundaries. These discussions allow them to work out how to handle these circumstances in real life. They can also hear what their peers think and how they might respond. It makes for a more enriching learning experience, points out Banning.

How Parents Can Support This Learning at Home

The curriculum also includes features parents can use at home to facilitate conversations and further strengthen and support the lessons the kids are learning in school. For example, there are family resources like “carpool conversations,” which are short audio clips that promote discussions among kids and their parents.

“We have a brand new set of family activities that are meant to correspond with the topics being taught at particular ages within the curriculum,” says Buch. “And, it’s a way to have a conversation about the topic in a low-stakes environment or conversation with your child.”

She says parents can listen to the audio, which features a parent and child discussing a topic and sharing their viewpoints. Then, they can pause the audio and have a conversation about the topic, usually while driving in the car, while on a walk, or even while shooting hoops. 

“The goal is to talk about these things in a non-judgmental way,” says Buch. “It also helps parents model that even as adults, we can have tricky feelings around life with tech.”

When Will the Curriculum Be Available?

Common Sense Media notes that while the new curriculum will be available for use right away, the original lessons will remain available until June 2026. This will give teachers and schools time to transition to the new curriculum.

Educators interested in incorporating the new curriculum into their lessons can also attend a one-hour asynchronous professional development course that starts on August 18, 2025. At the conclusion of the course, they will receive a certificate of completion.

If you are interested in seeing this curriculum used in your school, or if you want to know if they are already using it, Buch recommends reaching out and asking teachers and administrators. And, if it’s not being used, it may be helpful to let the school’s decision-makers know that it is available—and free to use. 

You can access the Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum here.

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