State lawmakers across the United States have introduced 134 bills this legislative session focused on artificial intelligence in education, according to a tracker from policy firm MultiState. The bills are spread across 31 states and cover a wide range of topics, from protecting student data to setting limits on how AI can be used in grading and discipline.
Several common themes are emerging. Many bills would restrict 'high-stakes' uses of AI — for example, blocking schools from using AI alone to make decisions about discipline, special education placement, or final grades. Others require districts to publish clear policies explaining how AI is being used and to train teachers before bringing new tools into classrooms.
A growing number of bills also push for AI literacy lessons for students, treating it as a core skill alongside reading and math. The reasoning is that students will encounter AI throughout their lives, so understanding how it works — and where it can mislead them — needs to be taught in school rather than left to chance.
For families, the patchwork of state rules means that what is allowed in one school may be banned in another. Educators expect this fragmented landscape to continue for at least the next few years until more districts and states settle on shared standards.