States Move to Govern AI Use in Schools 

Alexandria, VA — With the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, state leaders have sought to get ahead of its implications, harnessing its potential for teaching and learning while addressing key concerns about cheating, data privacy, misinformation, and inequitable access. 

In a new NASBE policy update, Program Director Winona Hao explores how states have adopted guidance, piloted programs, and developed frameworks to monitor AI implementation. She notes that a coherent, coordinated state vision can help position AI as a tool to strengthen teaching and learning and prepare students for a rapidly changing future. 

The report notes promising states approaches:  

• Massachusetts launched a pilot curriculum where students can explore AI’s use and applications, and Maryland is testing AI’s instructional value through tutoring pilots.   

• Oregon and Mississippi have signed agreements with AI developer, Nvidia, to enhance workforce programs. Washington is collaborating with Microsoft to bring Copilot and Teams for Education into classrooms for free. 

• Several states have embedded AI into educator professional development, including New Jersey, which awarded funding to 12 school districts to experiment with AI tools for teaching and learning, while also building career and technical education pathways. Delaware and North Carolina convened education stakeholders to discuss AI’s best practices and guardrails for safety, privacy, and accessibility.  

• With evidence-based decision making, some states, like Indiana and Maine, are collecting data on how AI tools are being used and what results they produce.  

“Leading states will distinguish themselves in 2026 not by how quickly they adopted AI but by how thoughtfully they governed it, measured its impact, and supported educators through sustained, system-level strategies,” Hao writes. 

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