Information literacy (IL) involves a group of competences and fundamental
skills in the 21st century. Today, society operates around information, which
is challenging considering the vast amount of content available online. People
must be capable of searching, critically assessing, making sense of, and
communicating information. This set of competences must be properly developed
since childhood, especially if considering early age access to online
resources. To better understand the evolution and current status of IL
development and assessment at school (K-12) level, we conducted a systematic
literature review based on the guidelines established by the PRISMA statement.
Our review led us to an initial set of 1,234 articles, from which 53 passed the
inclusion criteria. These articles were used to address six research questions
focused on IL definitions, skills, standards, and assessment tools. Our review
shows IL evolution over the years and how it has been formalisedthrough
definitions and standards. These findings reveal key gaps that must be
addressed in order to advance the field further. Keywords: Elementary
education, Information literacy, Secondary education, 21st Century abilities.